The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

As Viagens do Doutor Dolittle

Hugh Lofting

ESL Easy Read

Reading Comprehension B1 • Original Text • Português Support

SAMPLE

Copyright

Fonte original — domínio público

Esta edição ESL Easy Read foi adaptada a partir de The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, de Hugh Lofting, publicado originalmente em 1922.

A obra original encontra-se em domínio público e pode ser utilizada, reproduzida, distribuída e adaptada de acordo com a legislação aplicável.

Autor

Hugh Lofting (1886–1947)

Estados Unidos

Esta obra foi publicada originalmente em 1922.

Nos Estados Unidos, obras publicadas antes de 1930 encontram-se normalmente em domínio público.

Com base no ano de publicação disponível, esta obra encontra-se em domínio público nos Estados Unidos desde 1º de janeiro de 2018.

Brasil

Autor: Hugh Lofting (1886–1947)

De acordo com a Lei nº 9.610/1998, os direitos patrimoniais expiram 70 anos após a morte do autor, contados a partir de 1º de janeiro do ano seguinte ao falecimento.

Hugh Lofting faleceu em 1947.

Situação no Brasil: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Portugal

Autor: Hugh Lofting (1886–1947)

De acordo com o Código do Direito de Autor e dos Direitos Conexos, a proteção patrimonial dura 70 anos após a morte do autor.

Hugh Lofting faleceu em 1947.

Situação em Portugal: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Dados da publicação original

Obra original: The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

Autor: Hugh Lofting

Primeira publicação: 1922

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Esta adaptação ESL Easy Read

Nenhum direito autoral é reivindicado sobre o texto original em domínio público. A estrutura editorial desta edição, as versões de leitura simplificada, as traduções de apoio, o layout, a capa e o aparato pedagógico são protegidos por direitos autorais.

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Introdução

Como ler este livro

Cada livro desta coleção é apresentado em um nível de leitura simplificada, de acordo com o CEFR — Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência para Línguas.

A2 — Básico: indicado para leitores que já compreendem frases simples, vocabulário frequente e textos curtos sobre situações do cotidiano.

B1 — Intermediário: indicado para leitores que conseguem compreender as ideias principais de textos claros e acompanhar uma narrativa com vocabulário e estruturas de dificuldade moderada.

B2 — Intermediário avançado: indicado para leitores que já conseguem compreender textos mais complexos, acompanhar descrições detalhadas e reconhecer uma variedade maior de vocabulário e estruturas gramaticais.

Este livro foi adaptado para o nível B1.

Assim, você pode começar a lê-lo mesmo sem dominar completamente o inglês. O texto foi simplificado para facilitar a compreensão, preservando a história, os personagens e os acontecimentos principais da obra original.

Como usar as notas

No texto de leitura simplificada, cada parágrafo possui um link Pt/En. Esse link abre uma nota com a tradução em português do texto simplificado e o trecho correspondente no texto original em inglês.

No texto original em inglês, o link PT leva diretamente ao parágrafo correspondente na versão em português. Na tradução portuguesa, o link En retorna ao parágrafo correspondente no texto original.

A tradução para o português é feita a partir do texto em inglês simplificado, e não diretamente do texto original. O objetivo é ajudar você a compreender com precisão a frase simplificada que está estudando naquele momento.

O texto original em inglês é apresentado separadamente para a etapa seguinte do aprendizado, quando você já estiver preparado para ler e comparar a obra em sua forma original.

Cada nota contém links que permitem retornar exatamente ao parágrafo que você estava lendo.

Sobre este livro

Nesta sequência de A História do Doutor Dolittle, o bondoso médico que fala com animais embarca em uma grande viagem com seu jovem assistente, Tommy Stubbins. Ambientado na fictícia vila inglesa de Puddleby-on-the-Marsh, a história começa quando o Doutor Dolittle recebe uma mensagem misteriosa de um colega naturalista, Flecha Longa, filho de Flecha Dourada, que está preso em uma ilha flutuante. Acompanhado por seus companheiros animais — incluindo a astuta papagaia Polinésia, o leal cão Jip e a sábia coruja Too-Too — Dolittle e Tommy partem em uma viagem pelo Atlântico. A jornada os leva à costa espanhola, onde resgatam um menino nativo, e depois à remota Ilha dos Macacos-Aranha, uma terra vulcânica habitada por uma tribo de nativos americanos e uma espécie única de lhamas de duas cabeças. O conflito central envolve a iminente destruição da ilha devido à atividade vulcânica e a necessidade de salvar seus habitantes. A narrativa é contada da perspectiva de Tommy, misturando aventura, história natural e humor suave. O tom é mais maduro que o primeiro livro, com temas sofisticados de exploração, amizade e respeito pela natureza. A história progride através de encontros episódicos, cada um revelando mais sobre as línguas animais e as maravilhas do mundo natural. No final, os personagens devem trabalhar juntos para superar desastres naturais e a ganância humana, mas o resultado final é deixado em aberto.

Nota editorial

A tradução para o português e a versão Reading Comprehension B1 foram geradas com apoio de inteligência artificial e submetidas a revisão editorial.

Em caso de dúvida ou observações, fale conosco.

MicMac from Las Vegas LLC
Contato: admin@micmacfromlasvegas.com

Outros livros e materiais

Materiais e outros livros da série ESL Easy Read:

Coleção Doctor Dolittle

Doctor Dolittle in the Moon

Doctor Dolittle's Caravan

Doctor Dolittle's Circus

Doctor Dolittle's Garden

Doctor Dolittle's Post Office

Doctor Dolittle's Zoo

The Story of Doctor Dolittle

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

Outras coleções disponíveis

Anne of Green Gables / L. M. Montgomery

Gothic and Terror Classics

A Selva de Burroughs

Marte de Burroughs

Sherlock Holmes

The Land of Oz

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Reading Comprehension B1

1 - PROLOGUE

2 - THE COBBLER'S SON

3 - I HEAR OF THE GREAT NATURALIST

4 - THE DOCTOR'S HOME

5 - THE WIFF-WAFF

6 - POLYNESIA

7 - THE WOUNDED SQUIRREL

8 - SHELLFISH TALK

9 - ARE YOU A GOOD NOTICER?

10 - THE GARDEN OF DREAMS

PROLOGUE

Pt/En The writer explains that everything written about Doctor Dolittle so far was heard from people who knew him. A lot of these events happened before the writer was born. Now, the writer will describe the part of Doctor Dolittle's life that the writer personally saw and was involved in.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle gave the writer permission to write about his life many years ago. However, they were both very busy travelling the world, having adventures, and taking notes. Because of this, the writer never found the time to sit down and write about their experiences.

Pt/En The writer is now an old man and finds that his memory is not as good as it used to be. When he is unsure about something and needs to think, he always asks Polynesia, the parrot, for help.

Pt/En Polynesia, the parrot, is nearly two hundred and fifty years old and sits on the writer's desk, often humming. She has an amazing memory. If the writer is not sure about any event, Polynesia can tell him exactly what happened, who was present, and all the details. The writer even feels that Polynesia helps him write the book.

Pt/En The writer announces that he will now begin the story. He will first talk about himself and explain how he met Doctor Dolittle.

THE COBBLER'S SON

Pt/En The narrator was Tommy Stubbins, the son of a cobbler. He was nine and a half years old and lived in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. At that time, Puddleby was a small town with a river running through it. An old stone bridge, called Kingsbridge, crossed the river, connecting the market-place to the churchyard.

Pt/En Sailing ships came up the river from the sea and stopped near the bridge. Tommy often watched the sailors unload the ships. They sang songs while they worked, and Tommy learned these songs. He would sit by the river and sing along, imagining he was a sailor himself.

Pt/En Tommy really wanted to sail away on those ships. He dreamed of travelling to faraway places like Africa, India, China, and Peru to find his fortune. Even when the ships disappeared around the river bend, he could still see their large brown sails moving slowly over the town. He wondered what amazing things they would see on their journeys and would watch until they were completely out of sight.

Pt/En Tommy had three good friends in Puddleby. One was Joe, who sold mussels and lived in a small hut under the bridge. Joe was very skilled with his hands. He repaired Tommy's toy boats, built windmills from old wood, and made fantastic kites from discarded umbrellas.

Pt/En Sometimes, Joe took Tommy out in his mussel boat. They would travel down the river towards the sea to collect mussels and lobsters to sell. On the open marshes, they saw many wild birds, like geese and sandpipers. As they returned up the river in the evening, the lights of Kingsbridge would appear in the dim light, reminding them it was time for dinner and a warm home.

Pt/En The narrator used to sit on the wall next to the river. His feet would hang down over the water.

Pt/En Another friend was Matthew Mugg, who sold meat for cats and dogs. He looked unusual with a squint, but he was pleasant to talk to. He knew everyone and all the animals in Puddleby. Cat's-meat sellers were common and would walk through the streets with trays of meat on sticks, calling out to customers. People bought this meat for their pets instead of giving them table scraps.

Pt/En The narrator enjoyed going with Matthew Mugg. Animals would come to their gates when they heard Matthew's call. Sometimes, the narrator was allowed to give the meat to the animals himself, which he found very fun. Matthew knew many types of dogs and had several himself. One was a fast whippet that won races, and another was a terrier that was good at catching rats. Matthew also worked as a rat-catcher for farmers.

Pt/En Luke the Hermit was the narrator's third important friend. More information about him would be shared later.

Pt/En The narrator did not attend school because his father could not afford it. However, he had a great love for animals. He spent his time collecting bird eggs and butterflies, fishing in the river, exploring the countryside for berries and mushrooms, and helping a man who sold mussels by repairing his nets.

Pt/En The writer remembered his childhood as a happy time, although he did not think so then. He was nine and a half years old and wanted to become an adult. He wished to leave his father's house, sail on ships, and explore the world to find his fortune.

I HEAR OF THE GREAT NATURALIST

Pt/En One spring morning, the writer was walking in the hills and saw a hawk holding a squirrel. When the writer approached, the hawk became frightened, dropped the squirrel, and flew away. The writer picked up the squirrel and saw that its legs were badly injured, so he carried it back to town.

Pt/En When the writer reached a bridge, he went into a hut belonging to a man who worked with mussels. He asked the man if he could help the injured squirrel. The man put on his glasses, looked at the squirrel carefully, and then shook his head.

Pt/En The man explained that the squirrel had a broken leg and another leg that was badly cut. He said he could fix boats but did not have the skills or tools to help the squirrel. He told the writer that only a very good doctor could save the animal's life, and he knew only one person who could do that: John Dolittle.

Pt/En The writer asked who John Dolittle was and if he was a veterinarian.

Pt/En The mussel-man said no. He explained that Doctor Dolittle was not a vet, but a naturalist.

Pt/En Someone asked what a naturalist was.

Pt/En Joe explained that a naturalist is someone who knows a lot about animals, plants, and rocks. He said John Dolittle was a very important naturalist. Joe was surprised the other person had not heard of him, especially since he knew so much about shellfish. Joe added that Doctor Dolittle was quiet, but some people believed he was the greatest naturalist in the world.

Pt/En The speaker asked where Doctor Dolittle lived.

Pt/En Joe said Doctor Dolittle lived on Oxenthorpe Road, on the other side of town. He suggested asking someone in that area to find the exact house. Joe encouraged the speaker to visit him, calling him a great man.

Pt/En After thanking the man who sold mussels, I picked up my squirrel and began walking towards the Oxenthorpe Road.

Pt/En As I entered the market-place, the first sound I heard was someone shouting the word "Meat!".

Pt/En I thought to myself that it was Matthew Mugg, and I was sure he would know where the Doctor lived because Matthew was acquainted with everyone.

Pt/En So, I quickly crossed the market-place to catch up with him.

Pt/En I asked Matthew if he knew Doctor Dolittle.

Pt/En The man said he knew John Dolittle very well, even better than his own wife. He thought John Dolittle was a very important person.

Pt/En I asked the man if he could show me John Dolittle's home. I explained that I needed to take a squirrel to him because its leg was broken.

Pt/En The cat's-meat-man agreed to help. He said he was going near John Dolittle's house soon and offered to show me the way.

Pt/En So, we went together.

Pt/En As we left the market, Matthew explained that he had known John Dolittle for a long time. He believed John Dolittle was away on a trip but might return soon. Matthew offered to show me his house so I would know where to find him.

Pt/En Matthew talked a lot about his friend, Doctor Dolittle, during their walk. He spoke so much that he forgot to shout "Meat!". Soon, they noticed many dogs were following them patiently.

Pt/En I asked Matthew where the Doctor had gone on his journey. Matthew was giving meat to the dogs at that moment.

Pt/En Matthew answered that he did not know where the Doctor went. He explained that nobody ever knows when the Doctor leaves or returns. The Doctor lives alone with his pets. He has made important journeys and discovered new things. Last time, he told Matthew he found a tribe of Red Indians in the Pacific Ocean. They lived on two islands, with husbands on one and wives on the other. They met once a year for a big celebration. Matthew said the Doctor is a very clever man and understands animals better than anyone.

Pt/En I asked how the Doctor learned so much about animals.

Pt/En The man who sold meat for cats stopped and bent down to whisper to me.

Pt/En He explained in a deep, unusual voice that he could understand the language of animals.

Pt/En I was surprised and asked if he really meant the language of animals.

Pt/En Matthew confirmed that all animals have a language, and Doctor Dolittle understands them all, including birds. He mentioned they kept this ability a secret because people would not believe them. Matthew added that the Doctor could even write in animal languages, creating books in monkey-talk and poetry in canary language. He was currently trying to learn the language of shellfish, which was difficult and had made him ill. Matthew concluded that the Doctor was an extraordinary man.

Pt/En I agreed that the Doctor must be remarkable and expressed a strong desire to meet him if he were home.

Pt/En The cat's-meat-man pointed out the Doctor's house, describing it as a small house located on a bend in the road, positioned high up on a wall above the street.

Pt/En They had now reached the edge of the town. Matthew showed the narrator a small house that stood alone. It was surrounded by a large garden, which was higher than the road. To get to the front gate, they had to climb a set of steps in the wall. The narrator could see many fruit trees in the garden, as their branches hung over the wall.

Pt/En Matthew and the narrator went up the steps to the front gate, but it was locked. A dog came from the house. A man pushed meat and bags of food through the gate, and the dog took them. The dog did not eat the food immediately but carried it back to the house. The dog had a noticeable wide collar that looked like brass. After this, they left.

Pt/En Matthew explained that the Doctor had not returned yet, which was why the gate was locked.

Pt/En The narrator asked Matthew what the items in the paper bags were that he had given to the dog.

Pt/En Matthew replied that the items were food for the animals. He mentioned that the Doctor's house was full of pets. He explained that he gave the food to the dog when the Doctor was away, and the dog then gave it to the other animals.

Pt/En Someone asked about the dog's unusual collar.

Pt/En Matthew explained that it was a solid gold dog collar. He said the Doctor gave it to the dog a long time ago because the dog had saved a man's life.

Pt/En The narrator asked how long the Doctor had owned the dog.

Pt/En Matthew said that Jip, the dog, was very old. Because of this, the Doctor no longer took him on trips. Jip stayed home to look after the house. Matthew brought food to the gate twice a week, and Jip would not let anyone enter the garden when the Doctor was away. Matthew also mentioned that the gate would be open if the Doctor had returned.

Pt/En The narrator went home to care for their squirrel in a box of straw until the Doctor returned. Each day, the narrator visited the house with the garden and checked the gate. Sometimes Jip the dog would come to the gate, wagging his tail, but he never allowed the narrator inside the garden.

THE DOCTOR'S HOME

Pt/En One Monday afternoon in April, my father asked me to deliver some shoes he had repaired. I had to take them to a house across town for Colonel Bellowes, who was a very demanding person.

Pt/En I found the house and rang the front door bell. The Colonel opened it with a red face and told me to go to the back door instead. Then he quickly closed the door.

Pt/En I felt like throwing the shoes away, but I didn't want my father to be angry. So I went to the back door. The Colonel's wife met me there and took the shoes. She seemed shy and had flour on her hands because she was making bread. She appeared very scared of her husband, whose angry noises I could still hear. She quietly asked if I wanted a bun and some milk, and I accepted.

Pt/En After eating the bun and milk, I thanked the Colonel's wife and left. I decided to visit the Doctor's house before going home. I had already been there that morning, but I wanted to check again because my squirrel was not improving, and I was starting to worry about him.

Pt/En So I turned onto Oxenthorpe Road and began walking towards the Doctor's house. On my way, I noticed the sky was becoming cloudy and it looked like it might rain.

Pt/En The narrator arrived at the gate but found it was still locked. They felt very disappointed because they had been coming there every day for a week. The dog, Jip, came to the gate, wagged his tail as usual, and then sat down to watch closely, making sure the narrator could not get inside.

Pt/En The narrator began to worry that their squirrel might die before the Doctor returned. Feeling sad, they turned away, walked down the steps to the road, and headed back home.

Pt/En The narrator wondered if it was time for supper. They did not have a watch, but saw a gentleman walking towards them. It was the Colonel, who was out for a walk. He was wearing many smart, warm clothes and looked like a pillow wrapped in blankets. The narrator asked him to tell them the time.

Pt/En The Colonel stopped and looked down at the narrator with a very red face, which became even redder. When he spoke, his voice sounded like a cork coming out of a bottle of fizzy drink.

Pt/En The Colonel asked if the narrator really thought he would unbutton his clothes just to tell a small boy the time. Then, he walked away down the street, making louder grunting noises than before.

Pt/En The narrator watched someone walk away. He thought about how old he would need to be for that person to check their watch. Suddenly, it began to rain very heavily.

Pt/En The rain was extremely heavy, making it dark like night. The wind blew strongly, thunder sounded, and lightning flashed. The road quickly flooded like a river. With no shelter nearby, the narrator lowered his head against the strong wind and ran towards home.

Pt/En While running, the narrator bumped into something soft and fell onto the pavement. He looked up to see who he had hit. In front of him sat a small, round man with a kind face. The man was wearing an old hat and holding a small black bag.

Pt/En The narrator apologized, explaining that he had his head down and had not seen the man coming.

Pt/En To the narrator's surprise, the little man did not get angry about being knocked down. Instead, he started to laugh.

Pt/En The man told the person that something reminded him of a time in India. He explained that during a thunderstorm, he ran into a woman who was carrying molasses on her head. He got treacle in his hair, and flies bothered him for weeks. He then asked if he had hurt the person.

Pt/En The person answered that they were not hurt and were fine.

Pt/En The little man said that it was also his fault because he was not looking where he was going. He suggested they should not stay talking in the rain. He thought they were both very wet and asked the other person how much further they had to go.

Pt/En The person replied that their home was on the other side of the town.

Pt/En The man commented that the pavement was very wet. He noticed the rain was getting heavier. He invited the person to his house so they could get dry, saying that a storm like this would not last much longer.

Pt/En The man took my hand, and we ran back down the road. As we ran, I wondered about this funny little man and where he lived. I was a stranger to him, but he was taking me to his home to get dry. This was very different from the unfriendly Colonel who had refused to help me. Soon, we stopped.

Pt/En The man said that they had arrived.

Pt/En I looked up and saw that we were at the steps of the small house with the large garden. My new friend was already going up the steps and opening the gate with keys from his pocket.

Pt/En I thought to myself that this could not possibly be the famous Doctor Dolittle.

Pt/En I had imagined Doctor Dolittle would be very tall and strong. It was difficult to believe that this small man with a kind, smiling face was him. However, he was indeed there, running up the steps and opening the gate that I had watched for many days.

Pt/En Jip, the dog, ran out excitedly. He jumped up and barked happily. The rain was falling very heavily.

Pt/En As I hurried up the short garden path towards the house, I called out to ask if he was Doctor Dolittle.

Pt/En He confirmed he was Doctor Dolittle and opened the front door. He invited me inside from the rain, telling me not to worry about wiping my feet or the mud.

Pt/En I went inside, followed by him and Jip. He then closed the door behind us.

Pt/En Inside the house, it was very dark. I heard an extremely strange noise, like many animals and birds making sounds all at once. I could sense animals moving around, and things bumped into me. The whole hall seemed to be filling with animals. The loud noise, combined with the rain, was overwhelming. I started to feel a little scared when the Doctor took my arm and shouted in my ear.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle told the person not to be afraid. He explained that the animals were his pets and were happy he had returned after being away for three months. He asked the person to stay still while he tried to make a light. He also mentioned the loud thunder and the bad storm.

Pt/En The narrator stood in the complete darkness, with many unseen animals moving around. It felt strange. The narrator had often thought about what Doctor Dolittle and his house would be like, but this was very different from what they had imagined. After Doctor Dolittle touched their arm, the narrator felt confused but not scared. It seemed like a strange dream, and they wondered if they were really awake when Doctor Dolittle spoke again.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle explained that his matches were wet and would not light. He asked if the other person had any matches.

Pt/En The narrator replied that they did not have any matches.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle said it was not a problem. He suggested that perhaps Dab-Dab could find a way to make some light.

Pt/En The Doctor made some strange clicking sounds with his tongue. After that, someone came up the stairs again and began to move around in the rooms upstairs.

Pt/En Then, they waited for a long time, but nothing happened.

Pt/En The narrator asked if the light would arrive soon. He explained that an animal was sitting on his foot and his toes were becoming numb.

Pt/En The Doctor answered that it would only take a minute and that she would return very soon.

Pt/En At that moment, the narrator saw the first signs of light from the landing above. Immediately, all the animals became silent.

Pt/En It was mentioned that she was carrying a lit candle in her right foot.

Pt/En The narrator told the Doctor that he thought the Doctor lived alone.

Pt/En The Doctor confirmed that he lived alone and explained that Dab-Dab was the one bringing the light.

Pt/En Looking up the stairs, the narrator tried to see who was coming but could not see past the landing. A strange sound was heard from the upper floor, like someone hopping down the stairs on only one leg.

Pt/En As the light moved closer, it became brighter and cast unusual, moving shadows on the walls.

Pt/En The Doctor expressed his relief and happiness, saying that Dab-Dab had arrived.

Pt/En The narrator felt like he was dreaming when a white duck appeared. The duck was looking around a corner, hopping down the stairs on one leg, and carrying a lit candle in its foot.

THE WIFF-WAFF

Pt/En When the narrator could look around, he saw that the hall was full of many different kinds of animals from the countryside. There were birds like a pigeon and a jackdaw, a white rat, an owl, and a badger. A small pig, which had just come in from the rainy garden, was carefully wiping its feet on the mat, and the light from the candle shone on its wet back.

Pt/En The Doctor took the candlestick from the duck and then turned to speak to the narrator.

Pt/En The Doctor told the narrator that he needed to take off his wet clothes. He also asked the narrator for his name.

Pt/En The narrator told the boy that his name was Tommy Stubbins.

Pt/En The Doctor asked Tommy if he was the son of Jacob Stubbins, a shoemaker.

Pt/En Tommy answered that he was.

Pt/En The Doctor said Tommy's father was a very good shoemaker. He showed Tommy the large boots his father had made for him four years before, which he still wore. The Doctor told Tommy to change his wet clothes quickly. He said they would find some dry clothes for him upstairs, and Tommy would wear an old suit of the Doctor's until his own clothes were dry by the kitchen fire.

Pt/En After more candles were lit, they went upstairs. In a bedroom, the Doctor took two old suits from a wardrobe, and they put them on. They took their wet clothes to the kitchen and started a fire. The Doctor's coat Tommy was wearing was too big, and he kept stepping on the tails. Soon, a large fire was burning, and they hung their wet clothes on chairs to dry.

Pt/En The Doctor said it was time to cook supper. He asked Stubbins if he would like to stay and eat with him.

Pt/En The narrator was starting to like the Doctor because he called him Stubbins and treated him like an adult friend. He felt proud and happy to be invited to supper. However, he suddenly remembered he had not told his mother he would be out late, so he sadly answered.

Pt/En The narrator explained that he would like to stay for supper. But he was worried that his mother would start to worry and wonder where he was if he did not return home soon.

Pt/En The Doctor told Stubbins that his clothes were not dry yet and that he would have to wait for them. He said that by the time his clothes were ready, they would have finished eating supper. The Doctor then asked Stubbins if he had seen where he put his bag.

Pt/En The narrator thought the bag was still in the hall. He offered to go and check for it.

Pt/En I found an old, black leather bag near the front door. It looked very old. One of its clasps was broken, and it was tied in the middle with a piece of string.

Pt/En When I brought the bag to the Doctor, he thanked me.

Pt/En I asked the Doctor if that bag was all the luggage he had for his journey.

Pt/En The Doctor confirmed it was. He explained that he did not like to carry much luggage because it was a nuisance and not really necessary. He then wondered where he had put his sausages.

Pt/En The Doctor searched inside the bag. First, he took out a loaf of fresh bread. Then he removed a glass jar with a special metal lid. He carefully held the jar up to the light, showing a strange little water creature swimming inside, before placing it on the table. Finally, the Doctor took out a pound of sausages.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle said that they were looking for a frying-pan.

Pt/En They went to the scullery and found pots and pans on the wall. Doctor Dolittle took down the frying-pan, which was rusty inside.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle noticed the rusty pan and explained that while the animals kept the house clean, they could not manage certain tasks. He asked Stubbins to bring him some silver-sand from under the sink to clean the pan.

Pt/En In a short time, they cleaned the pan until it was shiny. They then cooked sausages on the kitchen fire, and a pleasant smell spread through the house.

Pt/En While Doctor Dolittle was busy cooking, the narrator looked again at the small, unusual creature swimming in the glass jar.

Pt/En The narrator asked what the animal was.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that the animal was a Wiff-Waff, whose scientific name was hippocampus pippitopitus. He said the local people called it Wiff-Waff because of how it moved its tail when swimming. He had gone on his recent trip to find one. He was currently busy trying to learn the language of shellfish, as he was sure they had their own languages. He mentioned he could already speak some shark and porpoise language, but his main goal now was to learn shellfish language.

Pt/En The narrator asked for the reason why.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that some shellfish are among the oldest known animals. Their fossilized shells are found in rocks, dating back thousands of years. He believed that by learning their language, he could discover much about the world from ancient times.

Pt/En The narrator inquired if other animals could also provide him with this information.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle did not think monkeys knew the oldest history. He explained that the monkeys he met in Africa could tell him about the past, but only for about a thousand years. He was sure that shellfish knew the oldest history in the world. He added that most other animals from ancient times had now disappeared.

Pt/En The narrator asked Doctor Dolittle if he had learned to speak with shellfish yet.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle replied that he had only just started. He had travelled to the Eastern Mediterranean to find a special pipe-fish, which was half shellfish and half ordinary fish. However, he was worried it would not be very helpful. He admitted he was disappointed with its appearance and did not think it looked very clever.

Pt/En The narrator agreed that the fish did not look intelligent.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle announced that the sausages were perfectly cooked. He invited the narrator to hold out his plate so he could serve him some.

Pt/En We sat at the kitchen table and began to eat a large meal.

Pt/En The kitchen was a very pleasant place to eat, more comfortable than any formal dining room. It felt warm and like home. Food was easy to get, taken directly from the fire to the table. The narrator could watch toast cooking and get salt from a box nearby without moving far. The large fireplace was like a room itself, with seats where people could sit inside, roast chestnuts, listen to the kettle, or look at books by the firelight. The kitchen was described as comfortable, sensible, friendly, and solid, like the Doctor himself.

Pt/En While they were eating, the door opened. Dab-Dab the duck and Jip the dog entered, pulling sheets and pillow-cases across the floor. The narrator was surprised, and the Doctor explained the situation.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that Dab-Dab and Jip were airing the bedding by the fire. He praised Dab-Dab as an excellent housekeeper, better than his sister Sarah had been. He then offered the narrator another sausage.

Pt/En The Doctor spoke to the dog and the duck using a strange language and signs. They appeared to understand him perfectly.

Pt/En The speaker asked Doctor Dolittle if he could speak the language of squirrels.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle said that speaking squirrel was an easy language and could be learned without much trouble. He then asked why the speaker was inquiring.

Pt/En The speaker explained that they had a sick squirrel at home, which they had rescued from a hawk. The squirrel had two badly injured legs, and the speaker wanted to know if Doctor Dolittle could examine it, perhaps the next day.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle decided that if the squirrel's leg was seriously broken, he should see it that night. He mentioned it might be too late to help much, but he agreed to go with the speaker to look at the animal.

Pt/En The speaker's clothes were found to be dry by the fire. They went upstairs to change, and when they returned, Doctor Dolittle was ready. He had his bag packed with medicines and bandages.

Pt/En He invited the other person to go with him, saying that the rain had finished.

Pt/En It was bright outside again. The evening sky was red from the setting sun, and birds were singing in the garden as they opened the gate to go onto the road.

POLYNESIA

Pt/En The speaker told Doctor Dolittle that his house was the most interesting they had ever visited. They asked if they could visit again the next day.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle agreed, telling the speaker they could visit any day they wished. He promised to show them the garden and his private zoo the following day.

Pt/En The speaker asked if Doctor Dolittle had a zoo.

Pt/En The Doctor agreed. He explained that the larger animals were too big for his house, so he kept them in a zoo in his garden. He mentioned that the zoo was not very large, but it was interesting.

Pt/En The narrator told the Doctor that it must be wonderful to be able to speak all the animal languages. He asked if he thought he could ever learn to do this.

Pt/En The Doctor replied that the narrator could surely learn with practice. He advised him to be very patient and suggested that Polynesia could help him start, as she had given him his first lessons.

Pt/En The narrator asked who Polynesia was.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that Polynesia was a parrot from West Africa. He sadly said that she was no longer with him.

Pt/En Someone asked if the bird was dead.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that the bird was not dead, and he hoped she was still alive. He said that when they arrived in Africa, she was very happy to be back in her home country and cried with joy. He decided not to take her away from the sunny land, even though she offered to come. He left her in Africa and missed her very much. She cried again when he left. He believed he did the right thing because she was a good friend and had inspired him to learn animal languages and become an animal doctor. He wondered if she was still happy in Africa and if he would see her again. He remembered her as a funny, old, serious bird named Polynesia, who was extraordinary.

Pt/En At that moment, they heard someone running behind them. They turned and saw Jip the dog running towards them very fast. Jip seemed very excited and began barking and making sounds to the Doctor. The Doctor also became excited and started talking to the dog and making signs. Finally, he turned to the narrator with a very happy expression.

Pt/En The Doctor excitedly announced that Polynesia had returned. He explained that Jip had told him she had just arrived at the house. He mentioned it had been five years since he last saw her and excused himself for a moment.

Pt/En The Doctor turned as if to go home, but the parrot, Polynesia, was already flying towards them. The Doctor clapped his hands with joy, like a child receiving a new toy. A group of sparrows on the fences flew up, chattering, very surprised to see a gray and red parrot flying down the road in England.

Pt/En The bird landed on the Doctor's shoulder and began talking a lot in a language he did not understand. The Doctor became so interested that he forgot about the narrator, the squirrel, and Jip. Eventually, the bird asked the Doctor about the narrator.

Pt/En The Doctor apologized to Thomas Stubbins, explaining that he was very interested in listening to his old friend, the bird. He then introduced the bird, Polynesia, to Thomas Stubbins and said they should go and see Stubbins's squirrel.

Pt/En The parrot, still on the Doctor's shoulder, nodded towards the narrator. To the narrator's surprise, the parrot then spoke clearly in English.

Pt/En The parrot greeted Thomas Stubbins and said it remembered the night he was born. It mentioned that it was a very cold winter and that Stubbins had been a very ugly baby.

Pt/En The Doctor explained to the parrot that Stubbins was eager to learn animal languages. He said he had been telling Stubbins about the parrot and the lessons it had given him. Jip then ran up to tell them that the parrot had arrived.

Pt/En The parrot explained to the narrator that Doctor Dolittle had taught it to understand English. It said that many parrots can speak like humans, but few understand what they are saying. They often speak because they think it is smart or because they want to get food, such as crackers.

Pt/En By this time, they were walking towards the narrator's home. Jip the dog ran ahead, and Polynesia the parrot sat on Doctor Dolittle's shoulder. The parrot talked a lot, mostly about Africa, but it spoke in English out of politeness to the narrator.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle asked how Prince Bumpo was doing.

Pt/En Polynesia was pleased that the Doctor asked. She said she had almost forgotten to mention that Prince Bumpo was now in England.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle was very surprised to hear that Prince Bumpo was in England. He wondered why he was there.

Pt/En The king, who was his father, sent him to a place. He thought the place was called Bullford, and he was sent there to study.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle did not recognize the name Bullford. He thought the person might mean Oxford instead.

Pt/En Polynesia confirmed that the place was Oxford. She remembered that Oxford was known for its cattle and agreed that it was the correct destination.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle expressed surprise that Bumpo was going to study at Oxford, finding it quite unexpected.

Pt/En There was a large celebration in Jolliginki when Bumpo left, but he was very scared. He was the first person from his country to travel abroad and feared meeting white people who might harm him. His father insisted he go, explaining that it was fashionable for sons of black kings to study at Oxford. Bumpo wanted to take his six wives, but his father refused. Bumpo left crying, and everyone at the palace was also sad, creating a very noisy and emotional farewell.

Pt/En The Doctor asked if someone had gone back to search for The Sleeping Beauty.

Pt/En Polynesia answered that he had returned the day after the Doctor left. She added that it was good he did, because the king learned about him helping the Doctor escape and was very angry.

Pt/En The Doctor asked again if he had found The Sleeping Beauty.

Pt/En Polynesia explained that the person brought back someone he said was The Sleeping Beauty. She thought it was a white woman with red hair and very large feet. Bumpo was very happy with her and married her. They celebrated with a feast for seven days. She is now his main wife and is known as Crown-Princess Bumpah.

Pt/En The Doctor then asked if Bumpo had remained white.

Pt/En The parrot explained that a change lasted only about three months. After that, the person's face went back to its normal color. This was good because the person looked very obvious in his bathing suit, with a white face and a black body.

Pt/En The Doctor asked about Chee-Chee. He explained that Chee-Chee was a pet monkey he had owned many years before. The Doctor had left Chee-Chee in Africa when he returned home.

Pt/En Polynesia said that Chee-Chee was not completely happy. She had seen him often in recent years, and he was very homesick for the Doctor, the house, and the garden. Polynesia felt the same way herself when she was in Africa. Although Africa was a wonderful place, after a few weeks it became boring for her, and she could not feel settled. So, she decided to return and find the Doctor. She told Chee-Chee her plan, and he agreed, feeling the same way. Africa was too quiet after their life with the Doctor. Chee-Chee missed the stories from the animal books and the conversations by the kitchen fire. The animals in Africa were kind, but they seemed less interesting than before. Chee-Chee thought so too. When Polynesia left, Chee-Chee was very sad and cried. He felt like he was losing his only friend. He also said it was unfair that Polynesia could fly back easily, but he had no way to follow. However, Polynesia believed that Chee-Chee was clever and might find a way to come back one day.

Pt/En They arrived at the Doctor's home. His father's shop was closed, and the shutters were down. His mother was standing at the door, looking down the street.

Pt/En The Doctor greeted Mrs. Stubbins and explained that it was his fault her son was late. He had invited the boy to stay for supper while his wet clothes dried. Both the Doctor and the boy had been caught in a storm and were soaked. The Doctor had asked the boy to come to his house for shelter.

Pt/En My mother said she had started to worry about him. She thanked the Doctor for taking good care of him and bringing him back home.

Pt/En The Doctor replied that it was no trouble. He mentioned that they had a very interesting conversation.

Pt/En My mother looked at the gray parrot sitting on the Doctor's shoulder. She asked who he was.

Pt/En The Doctor introduced himself as John Dolittle. He thought her husband would remember him because he had made him some excellent boots about four years ago, which he considered very good.

Pt/En I told my mother that the Doctor had come to help my squirrel. I explained that he was very knowledgeable about animals.

Pt/En The Doctor told Stubbins that not everything was about them.

Pt/En The narrator's mother thanked the Doctor for travelling a long way to help with the pet. She mentioned that Tom often brought home unusual animals from the woods and fields.

Pt/En The Doctor asked if Tom brought home animals and wondered if he might become a naturalist when he grew up.

Pt/En The narrator's mother invited the Doctor inside, explaining that the house was a bit messy because spring cleaning was not finished. She added that a warm fire was burning in the parlor.

Pt/En The Doctor thanked her and said that she had a very pleasant home.

Pt/En After carefully wiping his very large boots on the mat, the important man entered the house.

THE WOUNDED SQUIRREL

Pt/En Inside, we found my father. He was practicing his flute by the fire, which was something he always did every evening after finishing his work.

Pt/En The Doctor immediately started talking to my father about different wind instruments like flutes, piccolos, and bassoons. Soon after, my father spoke.

Pt/En My father asked the Doctor if he played the flute himself and invited him to play a song for them.

Pt/En The Doctor replied that he had not played the instrument for a long time, but he would like to try and asked for permission to do so.

Pt/En The Doctor took the flute from the narrator's father and played it for a very long time. The music was wonderful. The narrator's mother and father sat very quietly, looking up at the ceiling as if they were in church. Even the narrator, who did not usually care much for music, felt sad and a little scared. He wished he had been a better person.

Pt/En When the Doctor finally stopped playing, the narrator's mother said that she thought the music was very beautiful.

Pt/En The narrator's father told the Doctor that he was a very great musician. He then asked if the Doctor would please play something else for them.

Pt/En The Doctor agreed to play again, but then he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten about the squirrel.

Pt/En The narrator told the Doctor that he would show him the squirrel. He explained that the squirrel was upstairs in his room.

Pt/En The narrator led Doctor Dolittle to his bedroom at the top of the house. He showed the doctor a squirrel that was in a packing-case filled with straw.

Pt/En The squirrel was usually afraid of the narrator, but it sat up and chattered when the Doctor entered the room. The Doctor chattered back to the squirrel. When the Doctor lifted the squirrel to examine its leg, the animal seemed happy rather than scared.

Pt/En The narrator held a candle while Doctor Dolittle fixed the squirrel's leg. The doctor used matchsticks and his pen-knife to make small supports, which he called "splints", for the leg.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle told the narrator that the squirrel's leg would heal quickly. He advised keeping the squirrel in fresh air for two weeks and covering it with leaves if the nights became cool. The doctor explained that the squirrel felt lonely and missed its family. He promised to send another squirrel from his garden to get news of the family and bring it back. The doctor stressed that the squirrel must be kept cheerful because squirrels are active and find it difficult to be still.

Pt/En Afterwards, they returned to the parlor. The narrator's mother and father played the flute for Doctor Dolittle until after ten o'clock at night.

Pt/En The narrator's parents liked Doctor Dolittle very much when they first met him. They were happy he came to play music for them, even though they were not rich. At that time, they did not know he would become a famous person. Now, many people know about Doctor Dolittle. If you visit his old house in Puddleby, you can see a stone on the wall. It says that John Dolittle, a famous naturalist, played the flute in that house in 1839.

Pt/En The writer remembers a night from a long time ago. He can imagine the room clearly: a kind man with a round face played the flute by the fire. His mother and father sat on each side, listening with their eyes closed. The writer and his dog, Jip, sat on the carpet looking at the fire. Polynesia the parrot sat on the shelf, moving her head to the music. He remembers it all as if it were happening now.

Pt/En After they saw the Doctor out, the family returned to the room and talked about him for a long time. The writer went to bed very late, later than ever before. He dreamed about the Doctor and a group of clever animals playing music all night.

SHELLFISH TALK

Pt/En The next morning, the writer woke up very early, even though he had gone to bed late. The first birds were just starting to sing outside his window when he got out of bed and quickly put on his clothes.

Pt/En He was very eager to return to the house with the large garden to see the Doctor and his special animals. For the first time, he forgot about eating breakfast. He quietly went downstairs so he would not wake his parents. Then, he opened the front door and went out into the empty, quiet street.

Pt/En When I reached the Doctor's gate, I suddenly felt it might be too early to visit anyone. I wondered if the Doctor was already awake. I looked into the garden, but nobody seemed to be there. So, I quietly opened the gate and went inside.

Pt/En As I turned left to walk down a path between some hedges, I heard a voice very close to me.

Pt/En The voice greeted me and commented that I was very early.

Pt/En I turned around and saw the gray parrot, Polynesia, sitting on top of a privet hedge.

Pt/En I replied, saying good morning and admitting that I was probably quite early. I asked if the Doctor was still in bed.

Pt/En Polynesia told the narrator that Doctor Dolittle was already awake and had been up for a while. She said he was probably in the kitchen cooking breakfast or in his study. She mentioned the front door was open and invited the narrator to go in. Polynesia also commented on the bad, misty weather in England, saying it was cold and not sunny like Africa. She then told the narrator to go and see the Doctor.

Pt/En The narrator thanked Polynesia and said he would go to find Doctor Dolittle.

Pt/En When the narrator opened the front door, he smelled bacon cooking and went to the kitchen. He saw a large pot boiling and bacon and eggs on a dish near the fire. He thought the bacon was drying out, so he moved the dish further from the heat. Then he continued through the house to look for the Doctor.

Pt/En The narrator finally found Doctor Dolittle in a room that was later called the Study. It was a very interesting room filled with telescopes, microscopes, and other strange items the narrator did not understand but wanted to. The walls had pictures of animals, fish, and plants, as well as collections of birds' eggs and seashells in glass cases.

Pt/En The Doctor was standing at a table in his dressing-gown. He had a glass box filled with water in front of him. He was holding one ear in the water and covering the other with his hand. When the narrator entered, the Doctor stood up.

Pt/En The Doctor greeted Stubbins and said it looked like a nice day. He mentioned he had been listening to the Wiff-Waff, but he found it very disappointing.

Pt/En Stubbins asked the Doctor why he thought the Wiff-Waff was disappointing. He wanted to know if the Wiff-Waff did not have any language.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that the Wiff-Waff did have a language, but it was very simple, with only a few words like 'yes', 'no', 'hot', and 'cold'. He felt this was disappointing because the Wiff-Waff belonged to two different kinds of fish. He had hoped it would be very helpful.

Pt/En Stubbins thought that if the Wiff-Waff only knew two or three words, it probably did not have much intelligence.

Pt/En The Doctor agreed and suggested that the Wiff-Waff's limited language might be because of its lifestyle. He explained that Wiff-Waffs are now very rare and prefer to live alone in the deep ocean. Because they are solitary, he supposed they do not need to communicate much.

Pt/En I suggested that perhaps a larger shellfish would be able to talk more. I also asked if the shellfish was very small.

Pt/En The Doctor agreed that some shellfish are good talkers. However, he explained that the biggest ones are difficult to find because they live deep in the sea and move slowly along the ocean floor, so they are rarely caught in nets. He wished he could find a way to go to the bottom of the sea to learn more. Then, he asked if I had already eaten breakfast.

Pt/En I told the Doctor that I had forgotten about breakfast. He immediately led me to the kitchen.

Pt/En While pouring hot water into the teapot, the Doctor mentioned that if someone could travel to the bottom of the sea and stay there for a while, they would discover amazing things that people have never imagined.

Pt/En I asked the Doctor if people like divers do go down to the bottom of the sea.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that divers can go down into the sea, and he had used a diving suit himself. However, he noted that divers only go into shallow parts of the sea. He expressed a desire to explore the very deep parts of the ocean, miles deep, and believed he might achieve this one day. He then offered the person another cup of tea.

ARE YOU A GOOD NOTICER?

Pt/En At that moment, a parrot named Polynesia entered the room and spoke to the Doctor in bird language. Although the narrator did not understand what she said, the Doctor immediately stopped eating and left the room.

Pt/En After the Doctor left, the parrot explained that it was a shame because as soon as he returned home, sick animals from all over the area would come to him for help. She mentioned a hare waiting outside with a baby animal that might be having convulsions because it ate a poisonous plant. The parrot complained that the animals were inconsiderate, calling the Doctor away from his meals or waking him up at night. She felt the Doctor never had any peace because he was too kind and always agreed to see animals with urgent problems immediately.

Pt/En The narrator asked the parrot why some animals did not go to see other doctors.

Pt/En The parrot replied with surprise that there were no other real animal doctors. She said that while there were veterinarians, they were not helpful because they could not understand the animals' language. She imagined how difficult it would be to see a doctor who could not understand you or explain things in your own language. She then asked someone to keep the Doctor's food warm for him.

Pt/En The boy asked Polynesia if he would be able to learn the language of animals. He put the plate on the hearth while he asked.

Pt/En Polynesia replied that it depended on his abilities. She asked him if he was clever at learning.

Pt/En The boy answered that he did not know, feeling a little ashamed. He explained that he had never attended school because his father was too poor to send him.

Pt/En The parrot commented that he probably had not missed much from school, based on her observations of schoolboys. She then asked if he was a good observer, meaning if he noticed things well. She gave an example: if he saw two starlings on an apple tree and only looked at them once, could he identify them again the next day?

Pt/En The boy replied that he did not know, as he had never tried to observe things in that way.

Pt/En Polynesia explained that to learn animal language, you must be a good observer. This means noticing small details about how animals move, like their walk, head movements, wing flips, sniffing, and tail wiggles. She said many animals don't talk with their tongues. Instead, they use their breath, tails, or feet. This was because, long ago, they were scared of loud noises from dangerous animals. Birds were not as worried because they could fly away. Polynesia stressed that being a good noticer is very important for learning animal language.

Pt/En The narrator said that learning animal language sounded quite difficult.

Pt/En Polynesia told the narrator that he would need to be very patient and that it takes a long time to learn. She offered to give him some lessons if he visited often. She explained that learning animal language could help Doctor Dolittle with easier tasks, like giving medicine. Polynesia thought it was a good idea for the narrator to help the Doctor, especially if he was interested in animals, so the Doctor could get some rest.

Pt/En Polynesia repeated that being a good observer is very important.

Pt/En The narrator excitedly said he would love to learn and asked if Doctor Dolittle would allow him to do so.

Pt/En Polynesia agreed. She explained that the Doctor would teach him about doctoring. She then told him to be quiet because she heard the Doctor approaching and asked him to quickly return the bacon to the table.

THE GARDEN OF DREAMS

Pt/En After breakfast, the Doctor showed the narrator the garden. The narrator found the garden very interesting and much bigger than he first thought. It seemed to go on forever, with new parts to discover around every corner or over every hedge.

Original English Text

1 - PROLOGUE

2 - THE COBBLER'S SON

3 - I HEAR OF THE GREAT NATURALIST

4 - THE DOCTOR'S HOME

5 - THE WIFF-WAFF

6 - POLYNESIA

7 - THE WOUNDED SQUIRREL

8 - SHELLFISH TALK

9 - ARE YOU A GOOD NOTICER?

10 - THE GARDEN OF DREAMS

PROLOGUE

PT ALL THAT I have written so far about Doctor Dolittle I heard long after it happened from those who had known him — indeed a great deal of it took place before I was born. But I now come to set down that part of the great man's life which I myself saw and took part in.

PT Many years ago the Doctor gave me permission to do this. But we were both of us so busy then voyaging around the world, having adventures and filling note-books full of natural history that I never seemed to get time to sit down and write of our doings.

PT Now of course, when I am quite an old man, my memory isn't so good any more. But whenever I am in doubt and have to hesitate and think, I always ask Polynesia, the parrot.

PT That wonderful bird (she is now nearly two hundred and fifty years old) sits on the top of my desk, usually humming sailor songs to herself, while I write this book. And, as every one who ever met her knows, Polynesia's memory is the most marvelous memory in the world. If there is any happening I am not quite sure of, she is always able to put me right, to tell me exactly how it took place, who was there and everything about it. In fact sometimes I almost think I ought to say that this book was written by Polynesia instead of me.

PT Very well then, I will begin. And first of all I must tell you something about myself and how I came to meet the Doctor.

THE COBBLER'S SON

PT MY NAME WAS Tommy Stubbins, son of Jacob Stubbins, the cobbler of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh; and I was nine and a half years old. At that time Puddleby was only quite a small town. A river ran through the middle of it; and over this river there was a very old stone bridge, called Kingsbridge, which led you from the market-place on one side to the churchyard on the other.

PT Sailing-ships came up this river from the sea and anchored near the bridge. I used to go down and watch the sailors unloading the ships upon the river-wall. The sailors sang strange songs as they pulled upon the ropes; and I learned these songs by heart. And I would sit on the river-wall with my feet dangling over the water and sing with the men, pretending to myself that I too was a sailor.

PT For I longed always to sail away with those brave ships when they turned their backs on Puddleby Church and went creeping down the river again, across the wide lonely marshes to the sea. I longed to go with them out into the world to seek my fortune in foreign lands — Africa, India, China and Peru! When they got round the bend in the river and the water was hidden from view, you could still see their huge brown sails towering over the roofs of the town, moving onward slowly — like some gentle giants that walked among the houses without noise. What strange things would they have seen, I wondered, when next they came back to anchor at Kingsbridge! And, dreaming of the lands I had never seen, I'd sit on there, watching till they were out of sight.

PT Three great friends I had in Puddleby in those days. One was Joe, the mussel-man, who lived in a tiny hut by the edge of the water under the bridge. This old man was simply marvelous at making things. I never saw a man so clever with his hands. He used to mend my toy ships for me which I sailed upon the river; he built windmills out of packing-cases and barrel-staves; and he could make the most wonderful kites from old umbrellas.

PT Joe would sometimes take me in his mussel-boat, and when the tide was running out we would paddle down the river as far as the edge of the sea to get mussels and lobsters to sell. And out there on the cold lonely marshes we would see wild geese flying, and curlews and redshanks and many other kinds of seabirds that live among the samfire and the long grass of the great salt fen. And as we crept up the river in the evening, when the tide had turned, we would see the lights on Kingsbridge twinkle in the dusk, reminding us of tea-time and warm fires.

PT "I would sit on the river-wall with my feet dangling over the water"

PT Another friend I had was Matthew Mugg, the cat's-meat-man. He was a funny old person with a bad squint. He looked rather awful but he was really quite nice to talk to. He knew everybody in Puddleby; and he knew all the dogs and all the cats. In those times being a cat's-meat-man was a regular business. And you could see one nearly any day going through the streets with a wooden tray full of pieces of meat stuck on skewers crying, "Meat! M-E-A-T!" People paid him to give this meat to their cats and dogs instead of feeding them on dog-biscuits or the scraps from the table.

PT I enjoyed going round with old Matthew and seeing the cats and dogs come running to the garden-gates whenever they heard his call. Sometimes he let me give the meat to the animals myself; and I thought this was great fun. He knew a lot about dogs and he would tell me the names of the different kinds as we went through the town. He had several dogs of his own; one, a whippet, was a very fast runner, and Matthew used to win prizes with her at the Saturday coursing races; another, a terrier, was a fine ratter. The cat's-meat-man used to make a business of rat-catching for the millers and farmers as well as his other trade of selling cat's-meat.

PT My third great friend was Luke the Hermit. But of him I will tell you more later on.

PT I did not go to school; because my father was not rich enough to send me. But I was extremely fond of animals. So I used to spend my time collecting birds' eggs and butterflies, fishing in the river, rambling through the countryside after blackberries and mushrooms and helping the mussel-man mend his nets.

PT Yes, it was a very pleasant life I lived in those days long ago — though of course I did not think so then. I was nine and a half years old; and, like all boys, I wanted to grow up — not knowing how well off I was with no cares and nothing to worry me. Always I longed for the time when I should be allowed to leave my father's house, to take passage in one of those brave ships, to sail down the river through the misty marshes to the sea — out into the world to seek my fortune.

I HEAR OF THE GREAT NATURALIST

PT ONE EARLY MORNING in the Springtime, when I was wandering among the hills at the back of the town, I happened to come upon a hawk with a squirrel in its claws. It was standing on a rock and the squirrel was fighting very hard for its life. The hawk was so frightened when I came upon it suddenly like this, that it dropped the poor creature and flew away. I picked the squirrel up and found that two of its legs were badly hurt. So I carried it in my arms back to the town.

PT When I came to the bridge I went into the mussel-man's hut and asked him if he could do anything for it. Joe put on his spectacles and examined it carefully. Then he shook his head.

PT "Yon crittur's got a broken leg," he said— "and another badly cut an' all. I can mend you your boats, Tom, but I haven't the tools nor the learning to make a broken squirrel seaworthy. This is a job for a surgeon — and for a right smart one an' all. There be only one man I know who could save yon crittur's life. And that's John Dolittle."

PT "Who is John Dolittle?" I asked. "Is he a vet?"

PT "No," said the mussel-man. "He's no vet. Doctor Dolittle is a nacheralist."

PT "What's a nacheralist?"

PT "A nacheralist," said Joe, putting away his glasses and starting to fill his pipe, "is a man who knows all about animals and butterflies and plants and rocks an' all. John Dolittle is a very great nacheralist. I'm surprised you never heard of him — and you daft over animals. He knows a whole lot about shellfish — that I know from my own knowledge. He's a quiet man and don't talk much; but there's folks who do say he's the greatest nacheralist in the world."

PT "Where does he live?" I asked.

PT "Over on the Oxenthorpe Road, t'other side the town. Don't know just which house it is, but 'most anyone 'cross there could tell you, I reckon. Go and see him. He's a great man."

PT So I thanked the mussel-man, took up my squirrel again and started off towards the Oxenthorpe Road.

PT The first thing I heard as I came into the market-place was some one calling "Meat! M-E-A-T!"

PT "There's Matthew Mugg," I said to myself. "He'll know where this Doctor lives. Matthew knows everyone."

PT So I hurried across the market-place and caught him up.

PT "Matthew," I said, "do you know Doctor Dolittle?"

PT "Do I know John Dolittle!" said he. "Well, I should think I do! I know him as well as I know my own wife — better, I sometimes think. He's a great man — a very great man."

PT "Can you show me where he lives?" I asked. "I want to take this squirrel to him. It has a broken leg."

PT "Certainly," said the cat's-meat-man. "I'll be going right by his house directly. Come along and I'll show you."

PT So off we went together.

PT "Oh, I've known John Dolittle for years and years," said Matthew as we made our way out of the market-place. "But I'm pretty sure he ain't home just now. He's away on a voyage. But he's liable to be back any day. I'll show you his house and then you'll know where to find him."

PT All the way down the Oxenthorpe Road Matthew hardly stopped talking about his great friend, Doctor John Dolittle— "M. D." He talked so much that he forgot all about calling out "Meat!" until we both suddenly noticed that we had a whole procession of dogs following us patiently.

PT "Where did the Doctor go to on this voyage?" I asked as Matthew handed round the meat to them.

PT "I couldn't tell you," he answered. "Nobody never knows where he goes, nor when he's going, nor when he's coming back. He lives all alone except for his pets. He's made some great voyages and some wonderful discoveries. Last time he came back he told me he'd found a tribe of Red Indians in the Pacific Ocean — lived on two islands, they did. The husbands lived on one island and the wives lived on the other. Sensible people, some of them savages. They only met once a year, when the husbands came over to visit the wives for a great feast — Christmas-time, most likely. Yes, he's a wonderful man is the Doctor. And as for animals, well, there ain't no one knows as much about 'em as what he does."

PT "How did he get to know so much about animals?" I asked.

PT The cat's-meat-man stopped and leant down to whisper in my ear.

PT " He talks their language," he said in a hoarse, mysterious voice.

PT "The animals' language?" I cried.

PT "Why certainly," said Matthew. "All animals have some kind of a language. Some sorts talk more than others; some only speak in sign-language, like deaf-and-dumb. But the Doctor, he understands them all — birds as well as animals. We keep it a secret though, him and me, because folks only laugh at you when you speak of it. Why, he can even write animal-language. He reads aloud to his pets. He's wrote history-books in monkey-talk, poetry in canary language and comic songs for magpies to sing. It's a fact. He's now busy learning the language of the shellfish. But he says it's hard work — and he has caught some terrible colds, holding his head under water so much. He's a great man."

PT "He certainly must be," I said. "I do wish he were home so I could meet him."

PT "Well, there's his house, look," said the cat's-meat-man— "that little one at the bend in the road there — the one high up — like it was sitting on the wall above the street."

PT We were now come beyond the edge of the town. And the house that Matthew pointed out was quite a small one standing by itself. There seemed to be a big garden around it; and this garden was much higher than the road, so you had to go up a flight of steps in the wall before you reached the front gate at the top. I could see that there were many fine fruit trees in the garden, for their branches hung down over the wall in places. But the wall was so high I could not see anything else.

PT When we reached the house Matthew went up the steps to the front gate and I followed him. I thought he was going to go into the garden; but the gate was locked. A dog came running down from the house; and he took several pieces of meat which the cat's-meat-man pushed through the bars of the gate, and some paper bags full of corn and bran. I noticed that this dog did not stop to eat the meat, as any ordinary dog would have done, but he took all the things back to the house and disappeared. He had a curious wide collar round his neck which looked as though it were made of brass or something. Then we came away.

PT "The Doctor isn't back yet," said Matthew, "or the gate wouldn't be locked."

PT "What were all those things in paper-bags you gave the dog?" I asked.

PT "Oh, those were provisions," said Matthew— "things for the animals to eat. The Doctor's house is simply full of pets. I give the things to the dog, while the Doctor's away, and the dog gives them to the other animals."

PT "And what was that curious collar he was wearing round his neck?"

PT "That's a solid gold dog-collar," said Matthew. "It was given to him when he was with the Doctor on one of his voyages long ago. He saved a man's life."

PT "How long has the Doctor had him?" I asked.

PT "Oh, a long time. Jip's getting pretty old now. That's why the Doctor doesn't take him on his voyages any more. He leaves him behind to take care of the house. Every Monday and Thursday I bring the food to the gate here and give it him through the bars. He never lets any one come inside the garden while the Doctor's away — not even me, though he knows me well. But you'll always be able to tell if the Doctor's back or not — because if he is, the gate will surely be open."

PT So I went off home to my father's house and put my squirrel to bed in an old wooden box full of straw. And there I nursed him myself and took care of him as best I could till the time should come when the Doctor would return. And every day I went to the little house with the big garden on the edge of the town and tried the gate to see if it were locked. Sometimes the dog, Jip, would come down to the gate to meet me. But though he always wagged his tail and seemed glad to see me, he never let me come inside the garden.

THE DOCTOR'S HOME

PT ONE M ONDAY AFTERNOON towards the end of April my father asked me to take some shoes which he had mended to a house on the other side of the town. They were for a Colonel Bellowes who was very particular.

PT I found the house and rang the bell at the front door. The Colonel opened it, stuck out a very red face and said, "Go round to the tradesmen's entrance — go to the back door." Then he slammed the door shut.

PT I felt inclined to throw the shoes into the middle of his flower-bed. But I thought my father might be angry, so I didn't. I went round to the back door, and there the Colonel's wife met me and took the shoes from me. She looked a timid little woman and had her hands all over flour as though she were making bread. She seemed to be terribly afraid of her husband whom I could still hear stumping round the house somewhere, grunting indignantly because I had come to the front door. Then she asked me in a whisper if I would have a bun and a glass of milk. And I said, "Yes, please."

PT After I had eaten the bun and milk, I thanked the Colonel's wife and came away. Then I thought that before I went home I would go and see if the Doctor had come back yet. I had been to his house once already that morning. But I thought I'd just like to go and take another look. My squirrel wasn't getting any better and I was beginning to be worried about him.

PT So I turned into the Oxenthorpe Road and started off towards the Doctor's house. On the way I noticed that the sky was clouding over and that it looked as though it might rain.

PT I reached the gate and found it still locked. I felt very discouraged. I had been coming here every day for a week now. The dog, Jip, came to the gate and wagged his tail as usual, and then sat down and watched me closely to see that I didn't get in.

PT I began to fear that my squirrel would die before the Doctor came back. I turned away sadly, went down the steps on to the road and turned towards home again.

PT I wondered if it were supper-time yet. Of course I had no watch of my own, but I noticed a gentleman coming towards me down the road; and when he got nearer I saw it was the Colonel out for a walk. He was all wrapped up in smart overcoats and mufflers and bright-colored gloves. It was not a very cold day but he had so many clothes on he looked like a pillow inside a roll of blankets. I asked him if he would please tell me the time.

PT He stopped, grunted and glared down at me — his red face growing redder still; and when he spoke it sounded like the cork coming out of a gingerbeer-bottle.

PT "Do you imagine for one moment," he spluttered, "that I am going to get myself all unbuttoned just to tell a little boy like you the time !" And he went stumping down the street, grunting harder than ever.

PT I stood still a moment looking after him and wondering how old I would have to be, to have him go to the trouble of getting his watch out. And then, all of a sudden, the rain came down in torrents.

PT I have never seen it rain so hard. It got dark, almost like night. The wind began to blow; the thunder rolled; the lightning flashed, and in a moment the gutters of the road were flowing like a river. There was no place handy to take shelter, so I put my head down against the driving wind and started to run towards home.

PT I hadn't gone very far when my head bumped into something soft and I sat down suddenly on the pavement. I looked up to see whom I had run into. And there in front of me, sitting on the wet pavement like myself, was a little round man with a very kind face. He wore a shabby high hat and in his hand he had a small black bag.

PT "I'm very sorry," I said. "I had my head down and I didn't see you coming."

PT To my great surprise, instead of getting angry at being knocked down, the little man began to laugh.

PT "You know this reminds me," he said, "of a time once when I was in India. I ran full tilt into a woman in a thunderstorm. But she was carrying a pitcher of molasses on her head and I had treacle in my hair for weeks afterwards — the flies followed me everywhere. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

PT "No," I said. "I'm all right."

PT "It was just as much my fault as it was yours, you know," said the little man. "I had my head down too — but look here, we mustn't sit talking like this. You must be soaked. I know I am. How far have you got to go?"

PT "My home is on the other side of the town," I said, as we picked ourselves up.

PT "My Goodness, but that was a wet pavement!" said he. "And I declare it's coming down worse than ever. Come along to my house and get dried. A storm like this can't last."

PT He took hold of my hand and we started running back down the road together. As we ran I began to wonder who this funny little man could be, and where he lived. I was a perfect stranger to him, and yet he was taking me to his own home to get dried. Such a change, after the old red-faced Colonel who had refused even to tell me the time! Presently we stopped.

PT "Here we are," he said.

PT I looked up to see where we were and found myself back at the foot of the steps leading to the little house with the big garden! My new friend was already running up the steps and opening the gate with some keys he took from his pocket.

PT "Surely," I thought, "this cannot be the great Doctor Dolittle himself!"

PT I suppose after hearing so much about him I had expected some one very tall and strong and marvelous. It was hard to believe that this funny little man with the kind smiling face could be really he. Yet here he was, sure enough, running up the steps and opening the very gate which I had been watching for so many days!

PT The dog, Jip, came rushing out and started jumping up on him and barking with happiness. The rain was splashing down heavier than ever.

PT "Are you Doctor Dolittle?" I shouted as we sped up the short garden-path to the house.

PT "Yes, I'm Doctor Dolittle," said he, opening the front door with the same bunch of keys. "Get in! Don't bother about wiping your feet. Never mind the mud. Take it in with you. Get in out of the rain!"

PT I popped in, he and Jip following. Then he slammed the door to behind us.

PT The storm had made it dark enough outside; but inside the house, with the door closed, it was as black as night. Then began the most extraordinary noise that I have ever heard. It sounded like all sorts and kinds of animals and birds calling and squeaking and screeching at the same time. I could hear things trundling down the stairs and hurrying along passages. Somewhere in the dark a duck was quacking, a cock was crowing, a dove was cooing, an owl was hooting, a lamb was bleating and Jip was barking. I felt birds' wings fluttering and fanning near my face. Things kept bumping into my legs and nearly upsetting me. The whole front hall seemed to be filling up with animals. The noise, together with the roaring of the rain, was tremendous; and I was beginning to grow a little bit scared when I felt the Doctor take hold of my arm and shout into my ear.

PT "Don't be alarmed. Don't be frightened. These are just some of my pets. I've been away three months and they are glad to see me home again. Stand still where you are till I strike a light. My Gracious, what a storm! — Just listen to that thunder!"

PT So there I stood in the pitch-black dark, while all kinds of animals which I couldn't see chattered and jostled around me. It was a curious and a funny feeling. I had often wondered, when I had looked in from the front gate, what Doctor Dolittle would be like and what the funny little house would have inside it. But I never imagined it would be anything like this. Yet somehow after I had felt the Doctor's hand upon my arm I was not frightened, only confused. It all seemed like some queer dream; and I was beginning to wonder if I was really awake, when I heard the Doctor speaking again:

PT "My blessed matches are all wet. They won't strike. Have you got any?"

PT "No, I'm afraid I haven't," I called back.

PT "Never mind," said he. "Perhaps Dab-Dab can raise us a light somewhere."

PT Then the Doctor made some funny clicking noises with his tongue and I heard some one trundle up the stairs again and start moving about in the rooms above.

PT Then we waited quite a while without anything happening.

PT "Will the light be long in coming?" I asked. "Some animal is sitting on my foot and my toes are going to sleep."

PT "No, only a minute," said the Doctor. "She'll be back in a minute."

PT And just then I saw the first glimmerings of a light around the landing above. At once all the animals kept quiet.

PT "And in her right foot she carried a lighted candle!"

PT "I thought you lived alone," I said to the Doctor.

PT "So I do," said he. "It is Dab-Dab who is bringing the light."

PT I looked up the stairs trying to make out who was coming. I could not see around the landing but I heard the most curious footstep on the upper flight. It sounded like some one hopping down from one step to the other, as though he were using only one leg.

PT As the light came lower, it grew brighter and began to throw strange jumping shadows on the walls.

PT "Ah — at last!" said the Doctor. "Good old Dab-Dab!"

PT And then I thought I really must be dreaming. For there, craning her neck round the bend of the landing, hopping down the stairs on one leg, came a spotless white duck. And in her right foot she carried a lighted candle!

THE WIFF-WAFF

PT WHEN AT LAST I could look around me I found that the hall was indeed simply full of animals. It seemed to me that almost every kind of creature from the countryside must be there: a pigeon, a white rat, an owl, a badger, a jackdaw — there was even a small pig, just in from the rainy garden, carefully wiping his feet on the mat while the light from the candle glistened on his wet pink back.

PT The Doctor took the candlestick from the duck and turned to me.

PT "Look here," he said: "you must get those wet clothes off — by the way, what is your name?"

PT "Tommy Stubbins," I said.

PT "Oh, are you the son of Jacob Stubbins, the shoemaker?"

PT "Yes," I said.

PT "Excellent bootmaker, your father," said the Doctor. "You see these?" and he held up his right foot to show me the enormous boots he was wearing. "Your father made me those boots four years ago, and I've been wearing them ever since — perfectly wonderful boots — Well now, look here, Stubbins. You've got to change those wet things — and quick. Wait a moment till I get some more candles lit, and then we'll go upstairs and find some dry clothes. You'll have to wear an old suit of mine till we can get yours dry again by the kitchen-fire."

PT So presently when more candles had been lighted round different parts of the house, we went upstairs; and when we had come into a bedroom the Doctor opened a big wardrobe and took out two suits of old clothes. These we put on. Then we carried our wet ones down to the kitchen and started a fire in the big chimney. The coat of the Doctor's which I was wearing was so large for me that I kept treading on my own coat-tails while I was helping to fetch the wood up from the cellar. But very soon we had a huge big fire blazing up the chimney and we hung our wet clothes around on chairs.

PT "Now let's cook some supper," said the Doctor.— "You'll stay and have supper with me, Stubbins, of course?"

PT Already I was beginning to be very fond of this funny little man who called me "Stubbins," instead of "Tommy" or "little lad" (I did so hate to be called "little lad"!) This man seemed to begin right away treating me as though I were a grown-up friend of his. And when he asked me to stop and have supper with him I felt terribly proud and happy. But I suddenly remembered that I had not told my mother that I would be out late. So very sadly I answered,

PT "Thank you very much. I would like to stay, but I am afraid that my mother will begin to worry and wonder where I am if I don't get back."

PT "Oh, but my dear Stubbins," said the Doctor, throwing another log of wood on the fire, "your clothes aren't dry yet. You'll have to wait for them, won't you? By the time they are ready to put on we will have supper cooked and eaten — Did you see where I put my bag?"

PT "I think it is still in the hall," I said. "I'll go and see."

PT I found the bag near the front door. It was made of black leather and looked very, very old. One of its latches was broken and it was tied up round the middle with a piece of string.

PT "Thank you," said the Doctor when I brought it to him.

PT "Was that bag all the luggage you had for your voyage?" I asked.

PT "Yes," said the Doctor, as he undid the piece of string. "I don't believe in a lot of baggage. It's such a nuisance. Life's too short to fuss with it. And it isn't really necessary, you know — Where did I put those sausages?"

PT The Doctor was feeling about inside the bag. First he brought out a loaf of new bread. Next came a glass jar with a curious metal top to it. He held this up to the light very carefully before he set it down upon the table; and I could see that there was some strange little water-creature swimming about inside. At last the Doctor brought out a pound of sausages.

PT "Now," he said, "all we want is a frying-pan."

PT We went into the scullery and there we found some pots and pans hanging against the wall. The Doctor took down the frying-pan. It was quite rusty on the inside.

PT "Dear me, just look at that!" said he. "That's the worst of being away so long. The animals are very good and keep the house wonderfully clean as far as they can. Dab-Dab is a perfect marvel as a housekeeper. But some things of course they can't manage. Never mind, we'll soon clean it up. You'll find some silver-sand down there, under the sink, Stubbins. Just hand it up to me, will you?"

PT In a few moments we had the pan all shiny and bright and the sausages were put over the kitchen-fire and a beautiful frying smell went all through the house.

PT While the Doctor was busy at the cooking I went and took another look at the funny little creature swimming about in the glass jar.

PT "What is this animal?" I asked.

PT "Oh that," said the Doctor, turning round— "that's a Wiff-Waff. Its full name is hippocampus pippitopitus. But the natives just call it a Wiff-Waff — on account of the way it waves its tail, swimming, I imagine. That's what I went on this last voyage for, to get that. You see I'm very busy just now trying to learn the language of the shellfish. They have languages, of that I feel sure. I can talk a little shark language and porpoise dialect myself. But what I particularly want to learn now is shellfish."

PT "Why?" I asked.

PT "Well, you see, some of the shellfish are the oldest kind of animals in the world that we know of. We find their shells in the rocks — turned to stone — thousands of years old. So I feel quite sure that if I could only get to talk their language, I should be able to learn a whole lot about what the world was like ages and ages and ages ago. You see?"

PT "But couldn't some of the other animals tell you as well?"

PT "I don't think so," said the Doctor, prodding the sausages with a fork. "To be sure, the monkeys I knew in Africa some time ago were very helpful in telling me about bygone days; but they only went back a thousand years or so. No, I am certain that the oldest history in the world is to be had from the shellfish — and from them only. You see most of the other animals that were alive in those very ancient times have now become extinct."

PT "Have you learned any shellfish language yet?" I asked.

PT "No. I've only just begun. I wanted this particular kind of a pipe-fish because he is half a shellfish and half an ordinary fish. I went all the way to the Eastern Mediterranean after him. But I'm very much afraid he isn't going to be a great deal of help to me. To tell you the truth, I'm rather disappointed in his appearance. He doesn't look very intelligent, does he?"

PT "No, he doesn't," I agreed.

PT "Ah," said the Doctor. "The sausages are done to a turn. Come along — hold your plate near and let me give you some."

PT Then we sat down at the kitchen-table and started a hearty meal.

PT It was a wonderful kitchen, that. I had many meals there afterwards and I found it a better place to eat in than the grandest dining-room in the world. It was so cozy and home-like and warm. It was so handy for the food too. You took it right off the fire, hot, and put it on the table and ate it. And you could watch your toast toasting at the fender and see it didn't burn while you drank your soup. And if you had forgotten to put the salt on the table, you didn't have to get up and go into another room to fetch it; you just reached round and took the big wooden box off the dresser behind you. Then the fireplace — the biggest fireplace you ever saw — was like a room in itself. You could get right inside it even when the logs were burning and sit on the wide seats either side and roast chestnuts after the meal was over — or listen to the kettle singing, or tell stories, or look at picture-books by the light of the fire. It was a marvelous kitchen. It was like the Doctor, comfortable, sensible, friendly and solid.

PT While we were gobbling away, the door suddenly opened and in marched the duck, Dab-Dab, and the dog, Jip, dragging sheets and pillow-cases behind them over the clean tiled floor. The Doctor, seeing how surprised I was, explained:

PT "They're just going to air the bedding for me in front of the fire. Dab-Dab is a perfect treasure of a housekeeper; she never forgets anything. I had a sister once who used to keep house for me (poor, dear Sarah! I wonder how she's getting on — I haven't seen her in many years). But she wasn't nearly as good as Dab-Dab. Have another sausage?"

PT The Doctor turned and said a few words to the dog and duck in some strange talk and signs. They seemed to understand him perfectly.

PT "Can you talk in squirrel language?" I asked.

PT "Oh yes. That's quite an easy language," said the Doctor. "You could learn that yourself without a great deal of trouble. But why do you ask?"

PT "Because I have a sick squirrel at home," I said. "I took it away from a hawk. But two of its legs are badly hurt and I wanted very much to have you see it, if you would. Shall I bring it to-morrow?"

PT "Well, if its leg is badly broken I think I had better see it to-night. It may be too late to do much; but I'll come home with you and take a look at it."

PT So presently we felt the clothes by the fire and mine were found to be quite dry. I took them upstairs to the bedroom and changed, and when I came down the Doctor was all ready waiting for me with his little black bag full of medicines and bandages.

PT "Come along," he said. "The rain has stopped now."

PT Outside it had grown bright again and the evening sky was all red with the setting sun; and thrushes were singing in the garden as we opened the gate to go down on to the road.

POLYNESIA

PT " I THINK your house is the most interesting house I was ever in," I said as we set off in the direction of the town. "May I come and see you again to-morrow?"

PT "Certainly," said the Doctor. "Come any day you like. To-morrow I'll show you the garden and my private zoo."

PT "Oh, have you a zoo?" I asked.

PT "Yes," said he. "The larger animals are too big for the house, so I keep them in a zoo in the garden. It is not a very big collection but it is interesting in its way."

PT "It must be splendid," I said, "to be able to talk all the languages of the different animals. Do you think I could ever learn to do it?"

PT "Oh surely," said the Doctor— "with practise. You have to be very patient, you know. You really ought to have Polynesia to start you. It was she who gave me my first lessons."

PT "Who is Polynesia?" I asked.

PT "Polynesia was a West African parrot I had. She isn't with me any more now," said the Doctor sadly.

PT "Why — is she dead?"

PT "Oh no," said the Doctor. "She is still living, I hope. But when we reached Africa she seemed so glad to get back to her own country. She wept for joy. And when the time came for me to come back here I had not the heart to take her away from that sunny land — although, it is true, she did offer to come. I left her in Africa — Ah well! I have missed her terribly. She wept again when we left. But I think I did the right thing. She was one of the best friends I ever had. It was she who first gave me the idea of learning the animal languages and becoming an animal doctor. I often wonder if she remained happy in Africa, and whether I shall ever see her funny, old, solemn face again — Good old Polynesia! — A most extraordinary bird — Well, well!"

PT Just at that moment we heard the noise of some one running behind us; and turning round we saw Jip the dog rushing down the road after us, as fast as his legs could bring him. He seemed very excited about something, and as soon as he came up to us, he started barking and whining to the Doctor in a peculiar way. Then the Doctor too seemed to get all worked up and began talking and making queer signs to the dog. At length he turned to me, his face shining with happiness.

PT "Polynesia has come back!" he cried. "Imagine it. Jip says she has just arrived at the house. My! And it's five years since I saw her — Excuse me a minute."

PT He turned as if to go back home. But the parrot, Polynesia, was already flying towards us. The Doctor clapped his hands like a child getting a new toy; while the swarm of sparrows in the roadway fluttered, gossiping, up on to the fences, highly scandalized to see a gray and scarlet parrot skimming down an English lane.

PT On she came, straight on to the Doctor's shoulder, where she immediately began talking a steady stream in a language I could not understand. She seemed to have a terrible lot to say. And very soon the Doctor had forgotten all about me and my squirrel and Jip and everything else; till at length the bird clearly asked him something about me.

PT "Oh excuse me, Stubbins!" said the Doctor. "I was so interested listening to my old friend here. We must get on and see this squirrel of yours — Polynesia, this is Thomas Stubbins."

PT The parrot, on the Doctor's shoulder, nodded gravely towards me and then, to my great surprise, said quite plainly in English,

PT "How do you do? I remember the night you were born. It was a terribly cold winter. You were a very ugly baby."

PT "Stubbins is anxious to learn animal language," said the Doctor. "I was just telling him about you and the lessons you gave me when Jip ran up and told us you had arrived."

PT "Well," said the parrot, turning to me, "I may have started the Doctor learning but I never could have done even that, if he hadn't first taught me to understand what I was saying when I spoke English. You see, many parrots can talk like a person, but very few of them understand what they are saying. They just say it because — well, because they fancy it is smart or, because they know they will get crackers given them."

PT By this time we had turned and were going towards my home with Jip running in front and Polynesia still perched on the Doctor's shoulder. The bird chattered incessantly, mostly about Africa; but now she spoke in English, out of politeness to me.

PT "How is Prince Bumpo getting on?" asked the Doctor.

PT "Oh, I'm glad you asked me," said Polynesia. "I almost forgot to tell you. What do you think? — Bumpo is in England! "

PT "In England! — You don't say!" cried the Doctor. "What on earth is he doing here?"

PT "His father, the king, sent him here to a place called — er — Bullford, I think it was — to study lessons."

PT "Bullford! — Bullford!" muttered the Doctor. "I never heard of the place — Oh, you mean Oxford."

PT "Yes, that's the place — Oxford," said Polynesia "I knew it had cattle in it somewhere. Oxford — that's the place he's gone to."

PT "Well, well," murmured the Doctor. "Fancy Bumpo studying at Oxford — Well, well!"

PT "There were great doings in Jolliginki when he left. He was scared to death to come. He was the first man from that country to go abroad. He thought he was going to be eaten by white cannibals or something. You know what those niggers are — that ignorant! Well! — But his father made him come. He said that all the black kings were sending their sons to Oxford now. It was the fashion, and he would have to go. Bumpo wanted to bring his six wives with him. But the king wouldn't let him do that either. Poor Bumpo went off in tears — and everybody in the palace was crying too. You never heard such a hullabaloo."

PT "Do you know if he ever went back in search of The Sleeping Beauty?" asked the Doctor.

PT "Oh yes," said Polynesia— "the day after you left. And a good thing for him he did: the king got to know about his helping you to escape; and he was dreadfully wild about it."

PT "And The Sleeping Beauty? — did he ever find her?"

PT "Well, he brought back something which he said was The Sleeping Beauty. Myself, I think it was an albino niggeress. She had red hair and the biggest feet you ever saw. But Bumpo was no end pleased with her and finally married her amid great rejoicings. The feastings lasted seven days. She became his chief wife and is now known out there as the Crown-Princess Bum pah — you accent the last syllable."

PT "And tell me, did he remain white?"

PT "Only for about three months," said the parrot. "After that his face slowly returned to its natural color. It was just as well. He was so conspicuous in his bathing-suit the way he was, with his face white and the rest of him black."

PT "And how is Chee-Chee getting on? — Chee-Chee," added the Doctor in explanation to me, "was a pet monkey I had years ago. I left him too in Africa when I came away."

PT "Well," said Polynesia frowning,— "Chee-Chee is not entirely happy. I saw a good deal of him the last few years. He got dreadfully homesick for you and the house and the garden. It's funny, but I was just the same way myself. You remember how crazy I was to get back to the dear old land? And Africa is a wonderful country — I don't care what anybody says. Well, I thought I was going to have a perfectly grand time. But somehow — I don't know — after a few weeks it seemed to get tiresome. I just couldn't seem to settle down. Well, to make a long story short, one night I made up my mind that I'd come back here and find you. So I hunted up old Chee-Chee and told him about it. He said he didn't blame me a bit — felt exactly the same way himself. Africa was so deadly quiet after the life we had led with you. He missed the stories you used to tell us out of your animal books — and the chats we used to have sitting round the kitchen-fire on winter nights. The animals out there were very nice to us and all that. But somehow the dear kind creatures seemed a bit stupid. Chee-Chee said he had noticed it too. But I suppose it wasn't they who had changed; it was we who were different. When I left, poor old Chee-Chee broke down and cried. He said he felt as though his only friend were leaving him — though, as you know, he has simply millions of relatives there. He said it didn't seem fair that I should have wings to fly over here any time I liked, and him with no way to follow me. But mark my words, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he found a way to come — some day. He's a smart lad, is Chee-Chee."

PT At this point we arrived at my home. My father's shop was closed and the shutters were up; but my mother was standing at the door looking down the street.

PT "Good evening, Mrs. Stubbins," said the Doctor. "It is my fault your son is so late. I made him stay to supper while his clothes were drying. He was soaked to the skin; and so was I. We ran into one another in the storm and I insisted on his coming into my house for shelter."

PT "I was beginning to get worried about him," said my mother. "I am thankful to you, Sir, for looking after him so well and bringing him home."

PT "Don't mention it — don't mention it," said the Doctor. "We have had a very interesting chat."

PT "Who might it be that I have the honor of addressing?" asked my mother staring at the gray parrot perched on the Doctor's shoulder.

PT "Oh, I'm John Dolittle. I dare say your husband will remember me. He made me some very excellent boots about four years ago. They really are splendid," added the Doctor, gazing down at his feet with great satisfaction.

PT "The Doctor has come to cure my squirrel, Mother," said I. "He knows all about animals."

PT "Oh, no," said the Doctor, "not all, Stubbins, not all about them by any means."

PT "It is very kind of you to come so far to look after his pet," said my mother. "Tom is always bringing home strange creatures from the woods and the fields."

PT "Is he?" said the Doctor. "Perhaps he will grow up to be a naturalist some day. Who knows?"

PT "Won't you come in?" asked my mother. "The place is a little untidy because I haven't finished the spring cleaning yet. But there's a nice fire burning in the parlor."

PT "Thank you!" said the Doctor. "What a charming home you have!"

PT And after wiping his enormous boots very, very carefully on the mat, the great man passed into the house.

THE WOUNDED SQUIRREL

PT I NSIDE WE FOUND my father busy practising on the flute beside the fire. This he always did, every evening, after his work was over.

PT The Doctor immediately began talking to him about flutes and piccolos and bassoons; and presently my father said,

PT "Perhaps you perform upon the flute yourself, Sir. Won't you play us a tune?"

PT "Well," said the Doctor, "it is a long time since I touched the instrument. But I would like to try. May I?"

PT Then the Doctor took the flute from my father and played and played and played. It was wonderful. My mother and father sat as still as statues, staring up at the ceiling as though they were in church; and even I, who didn't bother much about music except on the mouth-organ — even I felt all sad and cold and creepy and wished I had been a better boy.

PT "Oh I think that was just beautiful!" sighed my mother when at length the Doctor stopped.

PT "You are a great musician, Sir," said my father, "a very great musician. Won't you please play us something else?"

PT "Why certainly," said the Doctor— "Oh, but look here, I've forgotten all about the squirrel."

PT "I'll show him to you," I said. "He is upstairs in my room."

PT So I led the Doctor to my bedroom at the top of the house and showed him the squirrel in the packing-case filled with straw.

PT The animal, who had always seemed very much afraid of me — though I had tried hard to make him feel at home, sat up at once when the Doctor came into the room and started to chatter. The Doctor chattered back in the same way and the squirrel when he was lifted up to have his leg examined, appeared to be rather pleased than frightened.

PT I held a candle while the Doctor tied the leg up in what he called "splints," which he made out of match-sticks with his pen-knife.

PT "I think you will find that his leg will get better now in a very short time," said the Doctor closing up his bag. "Don't let him run about for at least two weeks yet, but keep him in the open air and cover him up with dry leaves if the nights get cool. He tells me he is rather lonely here, all by himself, and is wondering how his wife and children are getting on. I have assured him you are a man to be trusted; and I will send a squirrel who lives in my garden to find out how his family are and to bring him news of them. He must be kept cheerful at all costs. Squirrels are naturally a very cheerful, active race. It is very hard for them to lie still doing nothing. But you needn't worry about him. He will be all right."

PT Then we went back again to the parlor and my mother and father kept him playing the flute till after ten o'clock.

PT Although my parents both liked the Doctor tremendously from the first moment that they saw him, and were very proud to have him come and play to us (for we were really terribly poor) they did not realize then what a truly great man he was one day to become. Of course now, when almost everybody in the whole world has heard about Doctor Dolittle and his books, if you were to go to that little house in Puddleby where my father had his cobbler's shop you would see, set in the wall over the old-fashioned door, a stone with writing on it which says: "JOHN DOLITTLE, THE FAMOUS NATURALIST, PLAYED THE FLUTE IN THIS HOUSE IN THE YEAR 1839."

PT I often look back upon that night long, long ago. And if I close my eyes and think hard I can see that parlor just as it was then: a funny little man in coat-tails, with a round kind face, playing away on the flute in front of the fire; my mother on one side of him and my father on the other, holding their breath and listening with their eyes shut; myself, with Jip, squatting on the carpet at his feet, staring into the coals; and Polynesia perched on the mantlepiece beside his shabby high hat, gravely swinging her head from side to side in time to the music. I see it all, just as though it were before me now.

PT And then I remember how, after we had seen the Doctor out at the front door, we all came back into the parlor and talked about him till it was still later; and even after I did go to bed (I had never stayed up so late in my life before) I dreamed about him and a band of strange clever animals that played flutes and fiddles and drums the whole night through.

SHELLFISH TALK

PT THE NEXT MORNING, although I had gone to bed so late the night before, I was up frightfully early. The first sparrows were just beginning to chirp sleepily on the slates outside my attic window when I jumped out of bed and scrambled into my clothes.

PT I could hardly wait to get back to the little house with the big garden — to see the Doctor and his private zoo. For the first time in my life I forgot all about breakfast; and creeping down the stairs on tip-toe, so as not to wake my mother and father, I opened the front door and popped out into the empty, silent street.

PT When I got to the Doctor's gate I suddenly thought that perhaps it was too early to call on any one: and I began to wonder if the Doctor would be up yet. I looked into the garden. No one seemed to be about. So I opened the gate quietly and went inside.

PT As I turned to the left to go down a path between some hedges, I heard a voice quite close to me say,

PT "Good morning. How early you are!"

PT I turned around, and there, sitting on the top of a privet hedge, was the gray parrot, Polynesia.

PT "Good morning," I said. "I suppose I am rather early. Is the Doctor still in bed?"

PT "Oh no," said Polynesia. "He has been up an hour and a half. You'll find him in the house somewhere. The front door is open. Just push it and go in. He is sure to be in the kitchen cooking breakfast — or working in his study. Walk right in. I am waiting to see the sun rise. But upon my word I believe it's forgotten to rise. It is an awful climate, this. Now if we were in Africa the world would be blazing with sunlight at this hour of the morning. Just see that mist rolling over those cabbages. It is enough to give you rheumatism to look at it. Beastly climate — Beastly! Really I don't know why anything but frogs ever stay in England — Well, don't let me keep you. Run along and see the Doctor."

PT "Thank you," I said. "I'll go and look for him."

PT When I opened the front door I could smell bacon frying, so I made my way to the kitchen. There I discovered a large kettle boiling away over the fire and some bacon and eggs in a dish upon the hearth. It seemed to me that the bacon was getting all dried up with the heat. So I pulled the dish a little further away from the fire and went on through the house looking for the Doctor.

PT I found him at last in the Study. I did not know then that it was called the Study. It was certainly a very interesting room, with telescopes and microscopes and all sorts of other strange things which I did not understand about but wished I did. Hanging on the walls were pictures of animals and fishes and strange plants and collections of birds' eggs and sea-shells in glass cases.

PT The Doctor was standing at the main table in his dressing-gown. At first I thought he was washing his face. He had a square glass box before him full of water. He was holding one ear under the water while he covered the other with his left hand. As I came in he stood up.

PT "Good morning, Stubbins," said he. "Going to be a nice day, don't you think? I've just been listening to the Wiff-Waff. But he is very disappointing — very."

PT "Why?" I said. "Didn't you find that he has any language at all?"

PT "Oh yes," said the Doctor, "he has a language. But it is such a poor language — only a few words, like 'yes' and 'no'— 'hot' and 'cold.' That's all he can say. It's very disappointing. You see he really belongs to two different families of fishes. I thought he was going to be tremendously helpful — Well, well!"

PT "I suppose," said I, "that means he hasn't very much sense — if his language is only two or three words?"

PT "Yes, I suppose it does. Possibly it is the kind of life he leads. You see, they are very rare now, these Wiff-Waffs — very rare and very solitary. They swim around in the deepest parts of the ocean entirely by themselves — always alone. So I presume they really don't need to talk much."

PT "Perhaps some kind of a bigger shellfish would talk more," I said. "After all, he is very small, isn't he?"

PT "Yes," said the Doctor, "that's true. Oh I have no doubt that there are shellfish who are good talkers — not the least doubt. But the big shellfish — the biggest of them, are so hard to catch. They are only to be found in the deep parts of the sea; and as they don't swim very much, but just crawl along the floor of the ocean most of the time, they are very seldom taken in nets. I do wish I could find some way of going down to the bottom of the sea. I could learn a lot if I could only do that. But we are forgetting all about breakfast — Have you had breakfast yet, Stubbins?"

PT I told the Doctor that I had forgotten all about it and he at once led the way into the kitchen.

PT "Yes," he said, as he poured the hot water from the kettle into the tea-pot, "if a man could only manage to get right down to the bottom of the sea, and live there a while, he would discover some wonderful things — things that people have never dreamed of."

PT "But men do go down, don't they?" I asked— "divers and people like that?"

PT "Oh yes, to be sure," said the Doctor. "Divers go down. I've been down myself in a diving-suit, for that matter. But my! — they only go where the sea is shallow. Divers can't go down where it is really deep. What I would like to do is to go down to the great depths — where it is miles deep — Well, well, I dare say I shall manage it some day. Let me give you another cup of tea."

ARE YOU A GOOD NOTICER?

PT J UST AT THAT moment Polynesia came into the room and said something to the Doctor in bird language. Of course I did not understand what it was. But the Doctor at once put down his knife and fork and left the room.

PT "You know it is an awful shame," said the parrot as soon as the Doctor had closed the door. "Directly he comes back home, all the animals over the whole countryside get to hear of it and every sick cat and mangy rabbit for miles around comes to see him and ask his advice. Now there's a big fat hare outside at the back door with a squawking baby. Can she see the Doctor, please! — Thinks it's going to have convulsions. Stupid little thing's been eating Deadly Nightshade again, I suppose. The animals are so inconsiderate at times — especially the mothers. They come round and call the Doctor away from his meals and wake him out of his bed at all hours of the night. I don't know how he stands it — really I don't. Why, the poor man never gets any peace at all! I've told him time and again to have special hours for the animals to come. But he is so frightfully kind and considerate. He never refuses to see them if there is anything really wrong with them. He says the urgent cases must be seen at once."

PT "Why don't some of the animals go and see the other doctors?" I asked.

PT "Oh Good Gracious!" exclaimed the parrot, tossing her head scornfully. "Why, there aren't any other animal-doctors — not real doctors. Oh of course there are those vet persons, to be sure. But, bless you, they're no good. You see, they can't understand the animals' language; so how can you expect them to be any use? Imagine yourself, or your father, going to see a doctor who could not understand a word you say — nor even tell you in your own language what you must do to get well! Poof! — those vets! They're that stupid, you've no idea! — Put the Doctor's bacon down by the fire, will you? — to keep hot till he comes back."

PT "Do you think I would ever be able to learn the language of the animals?" I asked, laying the plate upon the hearth.

PT "Well, it all depends," said Polynesia. "Are you clever at lessons?"

PT "I don't know," I answered, feeling rather ashamed. "You see, I've never been to school. My father is too poor to send me."

PT "Well," said the parrot, "I don't suppose you have really missed much — to judge from what I have seen of school-boys. But listen: are you a good noticer? — Do you notice things well? I mean, for instance, supposing you saw two cock-starlings on an apple-tree, and you only took one good look at them — would you be able to tell one from the other if you saw them again the next day?"

PT "I don't know," I said. "I've never tried."

PT "Well that," said Polynesia, brushing some crumbs off the corner of the table with her left foot— "that is what you call powers of observation — noticing the small things about birds and animals: the way they walk and move their heads and flip their wings; the way they sniff the air and twitch their whiskers and wiggle their tails. You have to notice all those little things if you want to learn animal language. For you see, lots of the animals hardly talk at all with their tongues; they use their breath or their tails or their feet instead. That is because many of them, in the olden days when lions and tigers were more plentiful, were afraid to make a noise for fear the savage creatures heard them. Birds, of course, didn't care; for they always had wings to fly away with. But that is the first thing to remember: being a good noticer is terribly important in learning animal language."

PT "It sounds pretty hard," I said.

PT "You'll have to be very patient," said Polynesia. "It takes a long time to say even a few words properly. But if you come here often I'll give you a few lessons myself. And once you get started you'll be surprised how fast you get on. It would indeed be a good thing if you could learn. Because then you could do some of the work for the Doctor — I mean the easier work, like bandaging and giving pills. Yes, yes, that's a good idea of mine. 'Twould be a great thing if the poor man could get some help — and some rest. It is a scandal the way he works. I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to help him a great deal — That is, if you are really interested in animals."

PT "'Being a good noticer is terribly important'"

PT "Oh, I'd love that!" I cried. "Do you think the Doctor would let me?"

PT "Certainly," said Polynesia— "as soon as you have learned something about doctoring. I'll speak of it to him myself — Sh! I hear him coming. Quick — bring his bacon back on to the table."

THE GARDEN OF DREAMS

PT WHEN BREAKFAST WAS over the Doctor took me out to show me the garden. Well, if the house had been interesting, the garden was a hundred times more so. Of all the gardens I have ever seen that was the most delightful, the most fascinating. At first you did not realize how big it was. You never seemed to come to the end of it. When at last you were quite sure that you had seen it all, you would peer over a hedge, or turn a corner, or look up some steps, and there was a whole new part you never expected to find.

Versão em Português

1 - PRÓLOGO

2 - O FILHO DO SAPATEIRO

3 - OUÇO FALAR DO GRANDE NATURALISTA

4 - A CASA DO DOUTOR

5 - O WIFF-WAFF

6 - POLINÉSIA

7 - O ESQUILO FERIDO

8 - A LINGUAGEM DOS MARISCOS

9 - VOCÊ É UM BOM OBSERVADOR?

10 - O JARDIM DOS SONHOS

PRÓLOGO

En O escritor explica que tudo o que foi escrito sobre o Doutor Dolittle até agora foi ouvido de pessoas que o conheciam. Muitos desses eventos aconteceram antes de o escritor nascer. Agora, o escritor vai descrever a parte da vida do Doutor Dolittle que ele pessoalmente viu e da qual participou.

En O Doutor Dolittle deu ao escritor permissão para escrever sobre sua vida há muitos anos. No entanto, eles estavam muito ocupados viajando pelo mundo, tendo aventuras e fazendo anotações. Por causa disso, o escritor nunca encontrou tempo para se sentar e escrever sobre suas experiências.

En O escritor agora é um homem idoso e percebe que sua memória não é tão boa como costumava ser. Quando ele não tem certeza sobre algo e precisa pensar, ele sempre pede ajuda a Polinésia, a arara.

En Polinésia, a arara, tem quase duzentos e cinquenta anos e fica sentada na mesa do escritor, geralmente cantarolando. Ela tem uma memória incrível. Se o escritor não tem certeza sobre algum evento, Polinésia pode lhe contar exatamente o que aconteceu, quem estava presente e todos os detalhes. O escritor até sente que Polinésia o ajuda a escrever o livro.

En O escritor anuncia que agora vai começar a história. Ele vai primeiro falar sobre si mesmo e explicar como conheceu o Doutor Dolittle.

O FILHO DO SAPATEIRO

En O narrador era Tommy Stubbins, filho de um sapateiro. Ele tinha nove anos e meio e morava em Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. Naquela época, Puddleby era uma cidade pequena com um rio passando por ela. Uma ponte de pedra antiga, chamada Kingsbridge, cruzava o rio, ligando a praça do mercado ao cemitério.

En Navios à vela subiam o rio vindos do mar e paravam perto da ponte. Tommy frequentemente observava os marinheiros descarregando os navios. Eles cantavam músicas enquanto trabalhavam, e Tommy aprendia essas canções. Ele sentava-se à beira do rio e cantava junto, imaginando que ele próprio era um marinheiro.

En Tommy realmente queria navegar para longe naqueles navios. Ele sonhava em viajar para lugares distantes como África, Índia, China e Peru para buscar fortuna. Mesmo quando os navios desapareciam na curva do rio, ele ainda podia ver suas grandes velas marrons se movendo lentamente sobre a cidade. Ele se perguntava que coisas incríveis eles veriam em suas jornadas e ficava observando até que desaparecessem completamente de vista.

En Tommy tinha três bons amigos em Puddleby. Um era Joe, que vendia mexilhões e morava em uma pequena cabana debaixo da ponte. Joe era muito habilidoso com as mãos. Ele consertava os barcos de brinquedo de Tommy, construía moinhos de vento com madeira velha e fazia pipas fantásticas com guarda-chuvas descartados.

En Às vezes, Joe levava Tommy em seu barco de mexilhões. Eles desciam o rio em direção ao mar para coletar mexilhões e lagostas para vender. Nos pântanos abertos, viam muitas aves selvagens, como gansos e maçaricos. Ao retornarem rio acima à noite, as luzes de Kingsbridge apareciam na luz fraca, lembrando-lhes que era hora do jantar e de um lar aquecido.

En O narrador costumava se sentar no muro ao lado do rio. Seus pés ficavam pendurados sobre a água.

En Outro amigo era Matthew Mugg, que vendia carne para gatos e cachorros. Ele tinha uma aparência incomum por causa de um estrabismo, mas era agradável de conversar. Ele conhecia todo mundo e todos os animais em Puddleby. Os vendedores de carne para gatos eram comuns e andavam pelas ruas com bandejas de carne em espetos, chamando os clientes. As pessoas compravam essa carne para seus animais de estimação em vez de dar restos de comida.

En O narrador gostava de ir com Matthew Mugg. Os animais vinham aos portões quando ouviam o chamado de Matthew. Às vezes, o narrador podia dar a carne aos animais ele mesmo, o que ele achava muito divertido. Matthew conhecia muitos tipos de cães e tinha vários. Um era um whippet rápido que vencia corridas, e outro era um terrier bom em pegar ratos. Matthew também trabalhava como caçador de ratos para fazendeiros.

En Luke, o Eremita, era o terceiro amigo importante do narrador. Mais informações sobre ele seriam compartilhadas depois.

En O narrador não frequentava a escola porque seu pai não podia pagar. No entanto, ele tinha um grande amor pelos animais. Ele passava o tempo coletando ovos de pássaros e borboletas, pescando no rio, explorando o campo em busca de frutas e cogumelos, e ajudando um homem que vendia mexilhões a consertar suas redes.

En O escritor lembrava de sua infância como um tempo feliz, embora não pensasse assim na época. Ele tinha nove anos e meio e queria se tornar adulto. Desejava sair da casa de seu pai, navegar em navios e explorar o mundo para encontrar sua fortuna.

OUÇO FALAR DO GRANDE NATURALISTA

En Uma manhã de primavera, o escritor estava caminhando nas colinas e viu um falcão segurando um esquilo. Quando o escritor se aproximou, o falcão se assustou, soltou o esquilo e voou para longe. O escritor pegou o esquilo e viu que suas pernas estavam gravemente feridas, então o carregou de volta para a cidade.

En Quando o escritor chegou a uma ponte, entrou em uma cabana pertencente a um homem que trabalhava com mexilhões. Ele perguntou ao homem se ele poderia ajudar o esquilo ferido. O homem colocou os óculos, olhou para o esquilo com cuidado e depois balançou a cabeça.

En O homem explicou que o esquilo tinha uma perna quebrada e outra perna gravemente cortada. Ele disse que podia consertar barcos, mas não tinha as habilidades ou ferramentas para ajudar o esquilo. Ele disse ao escritor que apenas um médico muito bom poderia salvar a vida do animal, e ele conhecia apenas uma pessoa que poderia fazer isso: John Dolittle.

En O escritor perguntou quem era John Dolittle e se ele era veterinário.

En O homem dos mariscos disse não. Ele explicou que o Doutor Dolittle não era veterinário, mas sim naturalista.

En Alguém perguntou o que era um naturalista.

En Joe explicou que um naturalista é alguém que sabe muito sobre animais, plantas e rochas. Ele disse que John Dolittle era um naturalista muito importante. Joe ficou surpreso que a outra pessoa não tinha ouvido falar dele, especialmente porque ele sabia tanto sobre mariscos. Joe acrescentou que o Doutor Dolittle era calado, mas algumas pessoas acreditavam que ele era o maior naturalista do mundo.

En O interlocutor perguntou onde o Doutor Dolittle morava.

En Joe disse que o Doutor Dolittle morava na Oxenthorpe Road, do outro lado da cidade. Ele sugeriu perguntar a alguém naquela área para encontrar a casa exata. Joe incentivou o interlocutor a visitá-lo, chamando-o de grande homem.

En Depois de agradecer ao homem que vendia mexilhões, peguei meu esquilo e comecei a andar em direção à Estrada de Oxenthorpe.

En Ao entrar na praça do mercado, o primeiro som que ouvi foi alguém gritando a palavra carne.

En Pensei comigo mesmo que era Matthew Mugg, e tinha certeza de que ele saberia onde o Doutor morava, pois Matthew conhecia todo mundo.

En Então, atravessei rapidamente a praça do mercado para alcançá-lo.

En Perguntei a Matthew se ele conhecia o Doutor Dolittle.

En O homem disse que conhecia John Dolittle muito bem, até melhor do que sua própria esposa. Ele achava que John Dolittle era uma pessoa muito importante.

En Perguntei ao homem se ele poderia me mostrar a casa de John Dolittle. Expliquei que precisava levar um esquilo para ele porque a perna do animal estava quebrada.

En O vendedor de carne para gatos concordou em ajudar. Ele disse que iria passar perto da casa de John Dolittle em breve e se ofereceu para me mostrar o caminho.

En Então, fomos juntos.

En Ao sairmos do mercado, Matthew explicou que conhecia John Dolittle há muito tempo. Ele acreditava que John Dolittle estava viajando, mas poderia voltar em breve. Matthew se ofereceu para me mostrar a casa dele para que eu soubesse onde encontrá-lo.

En Matthew falou muito sobre seu amigo, o Doutor Dolittle, durante o passeio. Ele falou tanto que se esqueceu de gritar "Carne!". Logo, eles notaram que muitos cães os seguiam pacientemente.

En Perguntei a Matthew para onde o Doutor havia ido em sua viagem. Matthew estava dando carne aos cães naquele momento.

En Matthew respondeu que não sabia para onde o Doutor tinha ido. Ele explicou que ninguém nunca sabe quando o Doutor parte ou retorna. O Doutor vive sozinho com seus animais de estimação. Ele fez viagens importantes e descobriu coisas novas. Da última vez, ele contou a Matthew que encontrou uma tribo de índios norte-americanos no Oceano Pacífico. Eles viviam em duas ilhas, com os maridos em uma e as esposas na outra. Eles se encontravam uma vez por ano para uma grande celebração. Matthew disse que o Doutor é um homem muito inteligente e entende os animais melhor do que ninguém.

En Perguntei como o Doutor aprendeu tanto sobre animais.

En O homem que vendia carne para gatos parou e se abaixou para sussurrar para mim.

En Ele explicou em uma voz profunda e incomum que conseguia entender a linguagem dos animais.

En Fiquei surpreso e perguntei se ele realmente se referia à linguagem dos animais.

En Matthew confirmou que todos os animais têm uma linguagem, e o Doutor Dolittle entende todos eles, incluindo pássaros. Ele mencionou que mantinham essa habilidade em segredo porque as pessoas não acreditariam neles. Matthew acrescentou que o Doutor podia até escrever em línguas animais, criando livros em linguagem de macaco e poesia em linguagem de canário. Ele estava atualmente tentando aprender a linguagem dos mariscos, o que era difícil e o havia deixado doente. Matthew concluiu que o Doutor era um homem extraordinário.

En Concordei que o Doutor devia ser notável e expressei um forte desejo de conhecê-lo se ele estivesse em casa.

En O vendedor de carne de gato apontou a casa do Doutor, descrevendo-a como uma casa pequena localizada em uma curva da estrada, posicionada bem no alto de um muro acima da rua.

En Eles agora haviam chegado à borda da cidade. Matthew mostrou ao narrador uma pequena casa que ficava sozinha. Ela era cercada por um grande jardim, que era mais alto que a estrada. Para chegar ao portão da frente, eles tiveram que subir um conjunto de degraus no muro. O narrador podia ver muitas árvores frutíferas no jardim, pois seus galhos pendiam sobre o muro.

En Matthew e o narrador subiram os degraus até o portão da frente, mas ele estava trancado. Um cachorro veio da casa. Um homem empurrou carne e sacos de comida através das grades do portão, e o cachorro os pegou. O cachorro não comeu a comida imediatamente, mas a carregou de volta para a casa. O cachorro tinha uma coleira larga e perceptível que parecia ser de latão. Depois disso, eles foram embora.

En Matthew explicou que o Doutor ainda não havia retornado, e era por isso que o portão estava trancado.

En O narrador perguntou a Matthew quais eram os itens nos sacos de papel que ele havia dado ao cachorro.

En Matthew respondeu que os itens eram comida para os animais. Ele mencionou que a casa do Doutor estava cheia de animais de estimação. Ele explicou que dava a comida ao cachorro quando o Doutor estava fora, e o cachorro então a dava aos outros animais.

En Alguém perguntou sobre a coleira incomum do cachorro.

En Matthew explicou que era uma coleira de cachorro de ouro maciço. Ele disse que o Doutor a deu ao cachorro há muito tempo porque o cachorro havia salvado a vida de um homem.

En O narrador perguntou há quanto tempo o Doutor possuía o cachorro.

En Matthew disse que Jip, o cachorro, era muito velho. Por causa disso, o Doutor não o levava mais em viagens. Jip ficava em casa para cuidar da casa. Matthew levava comida ao portão duas vezes por semana, e Jip não deixava ninguém entrar no jardim quando o Doutor estava fora. Matthew também mencionou que o portão estaria aberto se o Doutor tivesse voltado.

En O narrador foi para casa cuidar de seu esquilo em uma caixa de palha até o Doutor voltar. Cada dia, o narrador visitava a casa com o jardim e verificava o portão. Às vezes, Jip, o cachorro, vinha ao portão, abanando o rabo, mas nunca permitia que o narrador entrasse no jardim.

A CASA DO DOUTOR

En Numa segunda-feira à tarde, em abril, meu pai me pediu para entregar alguns sapatos que ele havia consertado. Eu tinha que levá-los para uma casa do outro lado da cidade para o Coronel Bellowes, que era uma pessoa muito exigente.

En Encontrei a casa e toquei a campainha da porta da frente. O Coronel abriu a porta com o rosto vermelho e me disse para ir à porta dos fundos. Então ele fechou a porta rapidamente.

En Senti vontade de jogar os sapatos fora, mas não queria que meu pai ficasse bravo. Então fui para a porta dos fundos. A esposa do Coronel me encontrou lá e pegou os sapatos. Ela parecia tímida e tinha farinha nas mãos porque estava fazendo pão. Ela parecia muito assustada com o marido, cujos ruídos de raiva eu ainda podia ouvir. Ela perguntou baixinho se eu queria um pãozinho e um pouco de leite, e eu aceitei.

En Depois de comer o pãozinho e o leite, agradeci à esposa do Coronel e saí. Decidi visitar a casa do Doutor antes de ir para casa. Já tinha ido lá naquela manhã, mas queria verificar novamente porque meu esquilo não estava melhorando e eu estava começando a me preocupar com ele.

En Então virei na Oxenthorpe Road e comecei a andar em direção à casa do Doutor. No caminho, notei que o céu estava ficando nublado e parecia que ia chover.

En O narrador chegou ao portão, mas descobriu que ainda estava trancado. Ele se sentiu muito decepcionado porque vinha ali todos os dias há uma semana. O cachorro, Jip, veio ao portão, abanou o rabo como de costume e depois sentou-se para observar atentamente, certificando-se de que o narrador não conseguisse entrar.

En O narrador começou a se preocupar que seu esquilo pudesse morrer antes do Doutor voltar. Sentindo-se triste, ele se virou, desceu os degraus até a estrada e voltou para casa.

En O narrador se perguntou se já era hora do jantar. Ele não tinha relógio, mas viu um cavalheiro caminhando em sua direção. Era o Coronel, que estava passeando. Ele usava muitas roupas elegantes e quentes e parecia um travesseiro enrolado em cobertores. O narrador pediu que ele lhe dissesse as horas.

En O Coronel parou e olhou para o narrador com o rosto muito vermelho, que ficou ainda mais vermelho. Quando falou, sua voz parecia uma rolha saindo de uma garrafa de refrigerante.

En O Coronel perguntou se o narrador realmente achava que ele iria desabotoar suas roupas só para dizer as horas a um garotinho. Então, ele foi embora rua abaixo, fazendo barulhos de resmungo mais altos do que antes.

En O narrador observou alguém se afastar. Ele pensou sobre quantos anos precisaria ter para que essa pessoa olhasse o relógio. De repente, começou a chover muito forte.

En A chuva era extremamente forte, tornando tudo escuro como a noite. O vento soprava com força, trovões soavam e relâmpagos brilhavam. A estrada rapidamente alagou como um rio. Sem abrigo por perto, o narrador baixou a cabeça contra o vento forte e correu para casa.

En Enquanto corria, o narrador esbarrou em algo macio e caiu na calçada. Ele olhou para cima para ver em quem havia batido. Na sua frente estava sentado um homem pequeno e redondo, com um rosto bondoso. O homem usava um chapéu velho e segurava uma pequena bolsa preta.

En O narrador se desculpou, explicando que estava com a cabeça baixa e não tinha visto o homem se aproximar.

En Para a surpresa do narrador, o homenzinho não ficou bravo por ter sido derrubado. Em vez disso, ele começou a rir.

En O homem disse à pessoa que algo o lembrava de uma época na Índia. Ele explicou que durante uma tempestade, ele esbarrou em uma mulher que estava carregando melaço na cabeça. Ele ficou com melado no cabelo, e moscas o incomodaram por semanas. Ele então perguntou se tinha machucado a pessoa.

En A pessoa respondeu que não estava machucada e que estava bem.

En O homenzinho disse que também era culpa dele porque ele não estava olhando para onde ia. Ele sugeriu que não deveriam ficar conversando na chuva. Ele achava que ambos estavam muito molhados e perguntou à outra pessoa quanto mais eles tinham que andar.

En A pessoa respondeu que sua casa ficava do outro lado da cidade.

En O homem comentou que a calçada estava muito molhada. Ele percebeu que a chuva estava ficando mais forte. Ele convidou a pessoa para sua casa para que pudessem se secar, dizendo que uma tempestade como essa não duraria muito mais tempo.

En O homem pegou minha mão e corremos de volta pela estrada. Enquanto corríamos, eu me perguntava sobre esse homenzinho engraçado e onde ele morava. Eu era um estranho para ele, mas ele estava me levando para sua casa para me secar. Isso era muito diferente do Coronel antipático que havia se recusado a me ajudar. Logo, paramos.

En O homem disse que eles haviam chegado.

En Olhei para cima e vi que estávamos nos degraus da pequena casa com o grande jardim. Meu novo amigo já estava subindo os degraus e abrindo o portão com chaves do bolso.

En Pensei comigo mesmo que aquilo não poderia ser o famoso Doutor Dolittle.

En Eu imaginava que o Doutor Dolittle seria muito alto e forte. Era difícil acreditar que aquele homenzinho de rosto bondoso e sorridente era ele. No entanto, ele estava lá, subindo os degraus e abrindo o portão que eu observava há muitos dias.

En Jip, o cachorro, saiu correndo animadamente. Ele pulou e latiu feliz. A chuva estava caindo muito forte.

En Enquanto eu subia apressado pelo curto caminho do jardim em direção à casa, gritei para perguntar se ele era o Doutor Dolittle.

En Ele confirmou que era o Doutor Dolittle e abriu a porta da frente. Ele me convidou para entrar, dizendo para não me preocupar em limpar os pés ou com a lama.

En Eu entrei, seguido por ele e Jip. Ele então fechou a porta atrás de nós.

En Dentro da casa, estava muito escuro. Eu ouvi um barulho extremamente estranho, como muitos animais e pássaros fazendo sons ao mesmo tempo. Eu podia sentir animais se movendo, e coisas esbarravam em mim. O hall inteiro parecia estar se enchendo de animais. O barulho alto, combinado com a chuva, era avassalador. Comecei a me sentir um pouco assustado quando o Doutor pegou meu braço e gritou no meu ouvido.

En O Doutor Dolittle disse à pessoa para não ter medo. Explicou que os animais eram seus animais de estimação e estavam felizes por ele ter voltado depois de ficar ausente por três meses. Pediu que a pessoa ficasse parada enquanto tentava fazer uma luz. Também mencionou o trovão alto e a tempestade forte.

En O narrador ficou na escuridão total, com muitos animais invisíveis se movendo ao redor. Parecia estranho. O narrador frequentemente pensara em como seriam o Doutor Dolittle e sua casa, mas isso era muito diferente do que imaginara. Depois que o Doutor Dolittle tocou seu braço, o narrador se sentiu confuso, mas não assustado. Parecia um sonho estranho, e ele se perguntou se estava realmente acordado quando o Doutor Dolittle falou novamente.

En O Doutor Dolittle explicou que seus fósforos estavam molhados e não acendiam. Perguntou se a outra pessoa tinha alguns fósforos.

En O narrador respondeu que não tinha fósforos.

En O Doutor Dolittle disse que não era um problema. Sugeriu que talvez Dab-Dab pudesse encontrar uma maneira de fazer alguma luz.

En O Doutor fez alguns sons estranhos de clique com a língua. Depois disso, alguém subiu as escadas novamente e começou a se mover nos quartos do andar de cima.

En Então, eles esperaram por um longo tempo, mas nada aconteceu.

En O narrador perguntou se a luz chegaria logo. Ele explicou que um animal estava sentado em seu pé e seus dedos estavam ficando dormentes.

En O Doutor respondeu que levaria apenas um minuto e que ela voltaria muito em breve.

En Naquele momento, o narrador viu os primeiros sinais de luz do patamar acima. Imediatamente, todos os animais ficaram em silêncio.

En Foi mencionado que ela carregava uma vela acesa no pé direito.

En O narrador disse ao Doutor que pensava que ele morava sozinho.

En O Doutor confirmou que morava sozinho e explicou que Dab-Dab era quem estava trazendo a luz.

En Olhando para cima da escada, o narrador tentou ver quem estava vindo, mas não conseguiu ver além do patamar. Um som estranho foi ouvido do andar de cima, como se alguém estivesse descendo as escadas pulando em uma perna só.

En À medida que a luz se aproximava, ficava mais brilhante e projetava sombras incomuns e móveis nas paredes.

En O Doutor expressou seu alívio e felicidade, dizendo que Dab-Dab tinha chegado.

En O narrador sentiu como se estivesse sonhando quando um pato branco apareceu. O pato estava espiando ao redor de uma esquina, descendo as escadas pulando em uma perna só e carregando uma vela acesa em seu pé.

O WIFF-WAFF

En Quando o narrador pôde olhar ao redor, ele viu que o salão estava cheio de muitos tipos diferentes de animais do campo. Havia pássaros como um pombo e uma gralha, um rato branco, uma coruja e um texugo. Um porquinho, que tinha acabado de entrar do jardim chuvoso, estava cuidadosamente limpando seus pés no tapete, e a luz da vela brilhava em suas costas molhadas.

En O Doutor pegou o castiçal da pata e então se virou para falar com o narrador.

En O Doutor disse ao narrador que ele precisava tirar suas roupas molhadas. Ele também perguntou ao narrador seu nome.

En O narrador disse ao menino que seu nome era Tommy Stubbins.

En O Doutor perguntou a Tommy se ele era filho de Jacob Stubbins, um sapateiro.

En Tommy respondeu que sim.

En O Doutor disse que o pai de Tommy era um sapateiro muito bom. Ele mostrou a Tommy as botas grandes que seu pai havia feito para ele quatro anos antes, as quais ele ainda usava. O Doutor disse a Tommy para trocar suas roupas molhadas rapidamente. Ele disse que encontrariam algumas roupas secas para ele no andar de cima, e Tommy usaria um terno velho do Doutor até que suas próprias roupas estivessem secas perto do fogo da cozinha.

En Depois que mais velas foram acesas, eles subiram. Em um quarto, o Doutor pegou dois ternos velhos de um guarda-roupa, e eles os vestiram. Levaram suas roupas molhadas para a cozinha e acenderam uma fogueira. O casaco do Doutor que Tommy estava usando era muito grande, e ele continuava pisando nas abas. Logo, uma grande fogueira estava queimando, e eles penduraram suas roupas molhadas em cadeiras para secar.

En O Doutor disse que era hora de cozinhar o jantar. Ele perguntou a Stubbins se ele gostaria de ficar e comer com ele.

En O narrador estava começando a gostar do Doutor porque ele o chamava de Stubbins e o tratava como um amigo adulto. Ele se sentiu orgulhoso e feliz por ser convidado para o jantar. No entanto, de repente lembrou que não tinha avisado a mãe que ficaria fora até tarde, então respondeu tristemente.

En O narrador explicou que gostaria de ficar para o jantar. Mas ele estava preocupado que sua mãe começasse a se preocupar e se perguntar onde ele estava se ele não voltasse para casa logo.

En O Doutor disse a Stubbins que suas roupas ainda não estavam secas e que ele teria que esperar por elas. Ele disse que quando suas roupas estivessem prontas, eles já teriam terminado de jantar. O Doutor então perguntou a Stubbins se ele tinha visto onde ele colocou sua bolsa.

En O narrador pensou que a bolsa ainda estava no hall. Ele se ofereceu para ir verificar.

En Encontrei uma bolsa de couro preto velha perto da porta da frente. Parecia muito antiga. Uma de suas travas estava quebrada e ela estava amarrada no meio com um pedaço de barbante.

En Quando levei a bolsa para o Doutor, ele me agradeceu.

En Perguntei ao Doutor se aquela bolsa era toda a bagagem que ele tinha para sua viagem.

En O Doutor confirmou que sim. Ele explicou que não gostava de carregar muita bagagem porque era um incômodo e não era realmente necessário. Então ele se perguntou onde tinha colocado suas salsichas.

En O Doutor procurou dentro da bolsa. Primeiro, ele tirou um pão fresco. Depois, ele retirou um pote de vidro com uma tampa de metal especial. Ele segurou o pote cuidadosamente contra a luz, mostrando uma estranha criatura aquática nadando lá dentro, antes de colocá-lo sobre a mesa. Finalmente, o Doutor tirou um quilo de salsichas.

En O Doutor Dolittle disse que eles estavam procurando uma frigideira.

En Eles foram à copa e encontraram panelas penduradas na parede. O Doutor Dolittle pegou a frigideira, que estava enferrujada por dentro.

En O Doutor Dolittle notou a frigideira enferrujada e explicou que, embora os animais mantivessem a casa limpa, eles não conseguiam cuidar de certas tarefas. Ele pediu a Stubbins que trouxesse um pouco de areia fina de debaixo da pia para limpar a panela.

En Em pouco tempo, eles limparam a panela até que ela ficasse brilhante. Em seguida, cozinharam salsichas no fogo da cozinha, e um cheiro agradável se espalhou pela casa.

En Enquanto o Doutor Dolittle estava ocupado cozinhando, o narrador olhou novamente para a pequena e incomum criatura nadando no vidro.

En O narrador perguntou o que era o animal.

En O Doutor explicou que o animal era um Wiff-Waff, cujo nome científico era hippocampus pippitopitus. Ele disse que os nativos o chamavam de Wiff-Waff por causa da maneira como movia o rabo ao nadar. Ele tinha ido em sua viagem recente para encontrar um. Ele estava atualmente ocupado tentando aprender a língua dos mariscos, pois tinha certeza de que eles tinham suas próprias línguas. Ele mencionou que já falava um pouco de língua de tubarão e de golfinho, mas seu principal objetivo agora era aprender a língua dos mariscos.

En O narrador perguntou o motivo.

En O Doutor explicou que alguns mariscos estão entre os animais mais antigos conhecidos. Suas conchas fossilizadas são encontradas em rochas, datando de milhares de anos. Ele acreditava que, ao aprender a língua deles, poderia descobrir muito sobre o mundo nos tempos antigos.

En O narrador perguntou se outros animais também poderiam lhe fornecer essa informação.

En O Doutor Dolittle não achava que os macacos soubessem a história mais antiga. Ele explicou que os macacos que conheceu na África podiam contar sobre o passado, mas apenas por cerca de mil anos. Ele tinha certeza de que os mariscos conheciam a história mais antiga do mundo. Ele acrescentou que a maioria dos outros animais de tempos antigos já havia desaparecido.

En O narrador perguntou ao Doutor Dolittle se ele já havia aprendido a falar com mariscos.

En O Doutor Dolittle respondeu que tinha apenas começado. Ele havia viajado para o Mediterrâneo Oriental para encontrar um peixe-cachimbo especial, que era metade marisco e metade peixe comum. No entanto, ele estava preocupado que não fosse muito útil. Ele admitiu que estava desapontado com sua aparência e não achava que parecesse muito inteligente.

En O narrador concordou que o peixe não parecia inteligente.

En O Doutor Dolittle anunciou que as salsichas estavam perfeitamente cozidas. Ele convidou o narrador a estender o prato para que pudesse servir um pouco.

En Nós nos sentamos à mesa da cozinha e começamos a comer uma grande refeição.

En A cozinha era um lugar muito agradável para comer, mais confortável do que qualquer sala de jantar formal. Tinha uma sensação acolhedora e caseira. A comida era fácil de pegar, retirada diretamente do fogo para a mesa. O narrador podia ver a torrada torrando e pegar sal de uma caixa nas proximidades sem se mover muito. A grande lareira era como um cômodo em si, com assentos onde as pessoas podiam sentar-se dentro, assar castanhas, ouvir a chaleira ou olhar livros à luz do fogo. A cozinha foi descrita como confortável, sensata, amigável e sólida, como o próprio Doutor.

En Enquanto eles comiam, a porta se abriu. Dab-Dab, a pata, e Jip, o cachorro, entraram, arrastando lençóis e fronhas pelo chão. O narrador ficou surpreso, e o Doutor explicou a situação.

En O Doutor explicou que Dab-Dab e Jip estavam arejando a roupa de cama perto do fogo. Ele elogiou Dab-Dab como uma excelente governanta, melhor do que sua irmã Sarah havia sido. Então, ele ofereceu outra salsicha ao narrador.

En O Doutor falou com o cachorro e a pata usando uma linguagem estranha e sinais. Eles pareciam entendê-lo perfeitamente.

En O interlocutor perguntou ao Doutor Dolittle se ele podia falar a língua dos esquilos.

En O Doutor Dolittle disse que falar a língua dos esquilos era uma língua fácil e podia ser aprendida sem muita dificuldade. Ele então perguntou por que o interlocutor estava perguntando.

En O interlocutor explicou que tinha um esquilo doente em casa, que havia resgatado de um falcão. O esquilo tinha duas pernas gravemente feridas, e o interlocutor queria saber se o Doutor Dolittle poderia examiná-lo, talvez no dia seguinte.

En O Doutor Dolittle decidiu que, se a perna do esquilo estivesse seriamente quebrada, ele deveria vê-lo naquela noite. Ele mencionou que poderia ser tarde demais para ajudar muito, mas concordou em ir com o interlocutor para examinar o animal.

En As roupas do interlocutor estavam secas perto do fogo. Ele subiu para trocar de roupa e, quando voltou, o Doutor Dolittle estava pronto. Ele tinha sua bolsa cheia de medicamentos e ataduras.

En Ele convidou a outra pessoa para ir com ele, dizendo que a chuva tinha parado.

En Estava claro lá fora novamente. O céu da tarde estava vermelho do pôr do sol, e os pássaros cantavam no jardim enquanto eles abriam o portão para ir para a estrada.

POLINÉSIA

En O falante disse ao Doutor Dolittle que a casa dele era a mais interessante que já tinham visitado. Eles perguntaram se poderiam visitá-lo novamente no dia seguinte.

En O Doutor Dolittle concordou, dizendo ao falante que eles poderiam visitar qualquer dia que quisessem. Ele prometeu mostrar-lhes o jardim e seu zoológico particular no dia seguinte.

En O falante perguntou se o Doutor Dolittle tinha um zoológico.

En O Doutor concordou. Ele explicou que os animais maiores eram grandes demais para sua casa, então ele os mantinha em um zoológico em seu jardim. Ele mencionou que o zoológico não era muito grande, mas era interessante.

En O narrador disse ao Doutor que deveria ser maravilhoso poder falar todas as línguas dos animais. Ele perguntou se ele achava que poderia aprender a fazer isso.

En O Doutor respondeu que o narrador certamente poderia aprender com a prática. Ele o aconselhou a ser muito paciente e sugeriu que a Polinésia poderia ajudá-lo a começar, já que ela lhe dera suas primeiras lições.

En O narrador perguntou quem era Polinésia.

En O Doutor explicou que Polinésia era um papagaio da África Ocidental. Ele disse tristemente que ela não estava mais com ele.

En Alguém perguntou se o pássaro estava morto.

En O Doutor explicou que o pássaro não estava morto, e ele esperava que ela ainda estivesse viva. Ele disse que quando chegaram na África, ela ficou muito feliz por estar de volta ao seu país natal e chorou de alegria. Ele decidiu não a tirar da terra ensolarada, mesmo que ela tivesse se oferecido para vir. Ele a deixou na África e sentiu muita falta dela. Ela chorou novamente quando ele partiu. Ele acreditou ter feito a coisa certa, pois ela era uma boa amiga e o inspirou a aprender línguas de animais e se tornar um médico de animais. Ele se perguntou se ela ainda estava feliz na África e se a veria novamente. Ele se lembrava dela como um pássaro engraçado, velho e sério chamado Polinésia, que era extraordinário.

En Naquele momento, eles ouviram alguém correndo atrás deles. Eles se viraram e viram Jip, o cachorro, correndo em direção a eles muito rápido. Jip parecia muito animado e começou a latir e fazer sons para o Doutor. O Doutor também ficou animado e começou a falar com o cachorro e fazer sinais. Finalmente, ele se virou para o narrador com uma expressão muito feliz.

En O Doutor anunciou animadamente que Polinésia tinha voltado. Ele explicou que Jip lhe dissera que ela acabara de chegar em casa. Ele mencionou que fazia cinco anos desde que a vira pela última vez e se desculpou por um momento.

En O Doutor se virou como se fosse para casa, mas o papagaio, Polinésia, já estava voando em direção a eles. O Doutor bateu palmas de alegria, como uma criança recebendo um brinquedo novo. Um grupo de pardais nas cercas voou, tagarelando, muito surpresos ao ver um papagaio cinza e vermelho voando pela estrada na Inglaterra.

En O pássaro pousou no ombro do Doutor e começou a falar muito em uma língua que ele não entendia. O Doutor ficou tão interessado que se esqueceu do narrador, do esquilo e do Jip. Por fim, o pássaro perguntou ao Doutor sobre o narrador.

En O Doutor pediu desculpas a Thomas Stubbins, explicando que estava muito interessado em ouvir sua velha amiga, o pássaro. Em seguida, apresentou o pássaro, Polinésia, a Thomas Stubbins e disse que eles deveriam ir ver o esquilo de Stubbins.

En O papagaio, ainda no ombro do Doutor, acenou com a cabeça na direção do narrador. Para surpresa do narrador, o papagaio então falou claramente em inglês.

En O papagaio cumprimentou Thomas Stubbins e disse que se lembrava da noite em que ele nasceu. Mencionou que era um inverno muito frio e que Stubbins tinha sido um bebê muito feio.

En O Doutor explicou ao papagaio que Stubbins estava ansioso para aprender línguas de animais. Ele disse que estava contando a Stubbins sobre o papagaio e as lições que ele lhe dera. Jip então correu para lhes dizer que o papagaio havia chegado.

En O papagaio explicou ao narrador que o Doutor Dolittle o havia ensinado a entender inglês. Ele disse que muitos papagaios conseguem falar como humanos, mas poucos entendem o que estão dizendo. Eles frequentemente falam porque acham que é inteligente ou porque querem conseguir comida, como biscoitos.

En Nesse momento, eles estavam caminhando em direção à casa do narrador. O cachorro Jip corria na frente, e a papagaia Polinésia estava sentada no ombro do Doutor Dolittle. O papagaio falava muito, principalmente sobre a África, mas falava em inglês por educação ao narrador.

En O Doutor Dolittle perguntou como o Príncipe Bumpo estava.

En Polinésia ficou satisfeita que o Doutor perguntou. Ela disse que quase tinha esquecido de mencionar que o Príncipe Bumpo estava agora na Inglaterra.

En O Doutor Dolittle ficou muito surpreso ao saber que o Príncipe Bumpo estava na Inglaterra. Ele se perguntou por que ele estava lá.

En O rei, que era seu pai, o enviou para um lugar. Ele pensava que o lugar se chamava Bullford, e ele foi enviado para lá para estudar.

En O Doutor Dolittle não reconheceu o nome Bullford. Ele pensou que a pessoa poderia estar se referindo a Oxford.

En Polinésia confirmou que o lugar era Oxford. Ela lembrou que Oxford era conhecida por seu gado e concordou que era o destino correto.

En O Doutor Dolittle expressou surpresa por Bumpo estar indo estudar em Oxford, achando isso bastante inesperado.

En Houve uma grande comemoração em Jolliginki quando Bumpo partiu, mas ele estava com muito medo. Ele foi a primeira pessoa de seu país a viajar para o exterior e temia encontrar pessoas brancas que pudessem machucá-lo. Seu pai insistiu que ele fosse, explicando que era moda os filhos de reis negros estudarem em Oxford. Bumpo queria levar suas seis esposas, mas seu pai recusou. Bumpo saiu chorando, e todos no palácio também estavam tristes, criando uma despedida muito barulhenta e emocionante.

En O Doutor perguntou se alguém tinha voltado para procurar a Bela Adormecida.

En Polinésia respondeu que ele tinha voltado no dia seguinte ao que o Doutor partiu. Ela acrescentou que foi bom ele ter feito isso, porque o rei descobriu que ele havia ajudado o Doutor a escapar e ficou muito irritado.

En O Doutor perguntou novamente se ele tinha encontrado a Bela Adormecida.

En Polinésia explicou que a pessoa trouxe de volta alguém que ele disse ser a Bela Adormecida. Ela achou que era uma mulher branca com cabelo ruivo e pés muito grandes. Bumpo ficou muito feliz com ela e se casou. Eles celebraram com um banquete de sete dias. Agora ela é sua esposa principal e é conhecida como Princesa Herdeira Bumpah.

En O Doutor então perguntou se Bumpo tinha permanecido branco.

En O papagaio explicou que uma mudança durou apenas cerca de três meses. Depois disso, o rosto da pessoa voltou à sua cor normal. Isso foi bom porque a pessoa parecia muito evidente em seu maiô, com o rosto branco e o corpo preto.

En O Doutor perguntou sobre Chee-Chee. Ele explicou que Chee-Chee era um macaco de estimação que ele tivera muitos anos antes. O Doutor tinha deixado Chee-Chee na África quando voltou para casa.

En Polinésia disse que Chee-Chee não estava completamente feliz. Ela o vira com frequência nos últimos anos, e ele sentia muita saudade do Doutor, da casa e do jardim. Polinésia sentia o mesmo quando estava na África. Embora a África fosse um lugar maravilhoso, depois de algumas semanas ficou chato para ela, e ela não conseguia se sentir estabelecida. Então, ela decidiu voltar e encontrar o Doutor. Ela contou seu plano a Chee-Chee, e ele concordou, sentindo o mesmo. A África era muito silenciosa após a vida que tiveram com o Doutor. Chee-Chee sentia falta das histórias dos livros de animais e das conversas ao lado do fogo da cozinha. Os animais na África eram gentis, mas pareciam menos interessantes do que antes. Chee-Chee também pensava assim. Quando Polinésia partiu, Chee-Chee ficou muito triste e chorou. Ele sentiu como se estivesse perdendo seu único amigo. Ele também disse que era injusto que Polinésia pudesse voar de volta facilmente, mas ele não tinha como segui-la. No entanto, Polinésia acreditava que Chee-Chee era inteligente e poderia encontrar um jeito de voltar um dia.

En Eles chegaram na casa do Doutor. A loja do pai dele estava fechada, e as persianas estavam abaixadas. A mãe dele estava parada na porta, olhando para a rua.

En O Doutor cumprimentou a Sra. Stubbins e explicou que era culpa dele o filho dela estar atrasado. Ele havia convidado o menino para ficar para o jantar enquanto suas roupas molhadas secavam. Tanto o Doutor quanto o menino foram pegos por uma tempestade e ficaram encharcados. O Doutor tinha pedido ao menino que viesse para sua casa se abrigar.

En Minha mãe disse que havia começado a se preocupar com ele. Ela agradeceu ao Doutor por cuidar tão bem dele e trazê-lo de volta para casa.

En O Doutor respondeu que não foi nenhum problema. Ele mencionou que eles tiveram uma conversa muito interessante.

En Minha mãe olhou para o papagaio cinza sentado no ombro do Doutor. Ela perguntou quem ele era.

En O Doutor se apresentou como John Dolittle. Ele achou que o marido dela se lembraria dele porque havia feito umas botas excelentes para ele cerca de quatro anos atrás, as quais ele considerava muito boas.

En Eu disse à minha mãe que o Doutor tinha vindo para ajudar meu esquilo. Expliquei que ele era muito conhecedor sobre animais.

En O Doutor disse a Stubbins que nem tudo era sobre eles.

En A mãe do narrador agradeceu ao Doutor por ter viajado uma longa distância para ajudar com o animal de estimação. Ela mencionou que Tom frequentemente trazia para casa animais incomuns dos bosques e campos.

En O Doutor perguntou se Tom trazia animais para casa e se perguntou se ele poderia se tornar um naturalista quando crescesse.

En A mãe do narrador convidou o Doutor para entrar, explicando que a casa estava um pouco bagunçada porque a limpeza de primavera não havia terminado. Ela acrescentou que uma lareira acesa estava queimando na sala de estar.

En O Doutor agradeceu a ela e disse que ela tinha uma casa muito agradável.

En Depois de limpar cuidadosamente suas botas muito grandes no tapete, o homem importante entrou na casa.

O ESQUILO FERIDO

En Lá dentro, encontramos meu pai. Ele estava praticando sua flauta perto do fogo, algo que ele sempre fazia todas as noites depois de terminar seu trabalho.

En O Doutor imediatamente começou a falar com meu pai sobre diferentes instrumentos de sopro, como flautas, flautins e fagotes. Logo depois, meu pai falou.

En Meu pai perguntou ao Doutor se ele mesmo tocava flauta e o convidou para tocar uma música para eles.

En O Doutor respondeu que não tocava o instrumento há muito tempo, mas que gostaria de tentar e pediu permissão para fazê-lo.

En O Doutor pegou a flauta do pai do narrador e tocou por muito tempo. A música era maravilhosa. A mãe e o pai do narrador sentaram-se muito quietos, olhando para o teto como se estivessem na igreja. Até o narrador, que normalmente não se importava muito com música, sentiu-se triste e um pouco assustado. Ele desejou ter sido uma pessoa melhor.

En Quando o Doutor finalmente parou de tocar, a mãe do narrador disse que achava a música muito bonita.

En O pai do narrador disse ao Doutor que ele era um grande músico. Em seguida, perguntou se o Doutor poderia tocar outra coisa para eles.

En O Doutor concordou em tocar novamente, mas então ele lembrou-se de repente que havia esquecido do esquilo.

En O narrador disse ao Doutor que mostraria o esquilo a ele. Ele explicou que o esquilo estava lá em cima, no seu quarto.

En O narrador levou o Doutor Dolittle ao seu quarto no topo da casa. Ele mostrou ao doutor um esquilo que estava em uma caixa cheia de palha.

En O esquilo geralmente tinha medo do narrador, mas sentou-se e começou a chiar quando o Doutor entrou no quarto. O Doutor chiou de volta para o esquilo. Quando o Doutor levantou o esquilo para examinar sua perna, o animal parecia feliz em vez de assustado.

En O narrador segurou uma vela enquanto o Doutor Dolittle consertava a perna do esquilo. O doutor usou palitos de fósforo e seu canivete para fazer pequenos suportes, que ele chamava de "talas", para a perna.

En O Doutor Dolittle disse ao narrador que a perna do esquilo sararia rapidamente. Ele aconselhou manter o esquilo ao ar livre por duas semanas e cobri-lo com folhas se as noites ficassem frias. O doutor explicou que o esquilo se sentia solitário e sentia falta de sua família. Ele prometeu enviar outro esquilo do seu jardim para obter notícias da família e trazê-las de volta. O doutor enfatizou que o esquilo devia ser mantido alegre porque os esquilos são ativos e têm dificuldade em ficar parados.

En Depois, eles voltaram para a sala de estar. A mãe e o pai do narrador tocaram flauta para o Doutor Dolittle até depois das dez horas da noite.

En Os pais do narrador gostaram muito do Doutor Dolittle quando o conheceram. Eles ficaram felizes que ele veio tocar música para eles, mesmo não sendo ricos. Naquela época, eles não sabiam que ele se tornaria uma pessoa famosa. Agora, muitas pessoas conhecem o Doutor Dolittle. Se você visitar a antiga casa dele em Puddleby, poderá ver uma pedra na parede. Diz que John Dolittle, um famoso naturalista, tocou flauta naquela casa em 1839.

En O escritor se lembra de uma noite de muito tempo atrás. Ele consegue imaginar a sala claramente: um homem gentil com rosto redondo tocava flauta perto da lareira. Sua mãe e seu pai estavam sentados em cada lado, ouvindo com os olhos fechados. O escritor e seu cachorro, Jip, sentaram no tapete olhando para o fogo. Polynesia, o papagaio, estava sentada na prateleira, balançando a cabeça ao ritmo da música. Ele se lembra de tudo como se estivesse acontecendo agora.

En Depois que se despediram do Doutor, a família voltou para a sala e conversou sobre ele por um longo tempo. O escritor foi dormir muito tarde, mais tarde do que nunca. Ele sonhou com o Doutor e um grupo de animais espertos tocando música a noite toda.

A LINGUAGEM DOS MARISCOS

En Na manhã seguinte, o escritor acordou muito cedo, mesmo tendo ido dormir tarde. Os primeiros pássaros estavam começando a cantar do lado de fora da janela quando ele saiu da cama e vestiu suas roupas rapidamente.

En Ele estava muito ansioso para voltar à casa com o grande jardim para ver o Doutor e seus animais especiais. Pela primeira vez, ele se esqueceu de tomar café da manhã. Ele desceu as escadas silenciosamente para não acordar seus pais. Depois, abriu a porta da frente e saiu para a rua vazia e silenciosa.

En Quando cheguei ao portão do Doutor, de repente senti que talvez fosse cedo demais para visitar alguém. Fiquei imaginando se o Doutor já estava acordado. Olhei para o jardim, mas ninguém parecia estar ali. Então, abri o portão silenciosamente e entrei.

En Ao virar à esquerda para descer um caminho entre algumas cercas-vivas, ouvi uma voz muito perto de mim.

En A voz me cumprimentou e comentou que eu estava muito cedo.

En Eu me virei e vi o papagaio cinza, Polinésia, sentado no topo de uma cerca de alfena.

En Eu respondi, dando bom dia e admitindo que provavelmente estava bem cedo. Perguntei se o Doutor ainda estava na cama.

En Polinésia disse ao narrador que o Doutor Dolittle já estava acordado e havia acordado há um tempo. Ela disse que ele provavelmente estava na cozinha preparando o café da manhã ou em seu escritório. Ela mencionou que a porta da frente estava aberta e convidou o narrador a entrar. Polinésia também comentou sobre o mau tempo e a névoa na Inglaterra, dizendo que estava frio e não ensolarado como na África. Então ela disse ao narrador para ir ver o Doutor.

En O narrador agradeceu a Polinésia e disse que iria encontrar o Doutor Dolittle.

En Quando o narrador abriu a porta da frente, sentiu cheiro de bacon cozinhando e foi para a cozinha. Ele viu uma grande panela fervendo e bacon e ovos em um prato perto do fogo. Ele achou que o bacon estava secando, então afastou o prato do calor. Então continuou pela casa para procurar o Doutor.

En O narrador finalmente encontrou o Doutor Dolittle em uma sala que mais tarde foi chamada de Escritório. Era uma sala muito interessante, cheia de telescópios, microscópios e outros itens estranhos que o narrador não entendia, mas queria entender. As paredes tinham fotos de animais, peixes e plantas, além de coleções de ovos de pássaros e conchas em caixas de vidro.

En O Doutor estava em pé em uma mesa, de roupão. Ele tinha uma caixa de vidro cheia de água na frente dele. Ele estava segurando uma orelha na água e cobrindo a outra com a mão. Quando o narrador entrou, o Doutor se levantou.

En O Doutor cumprimentou Stubbins e disse que parecia um dia agradável. Ele mencionou que estava ouvindo o Wiff-Waff, mas achou muito decepcionante.

En Stubbins perguntou ao Doutor por que ele achava o Wiff-Waff decepcionante. Ele queria saber se o Wiff-Waff não tinha nenhuma linguagem.

En O Doutor explicou que o Wiff-Waff tinha uma linguagem, mas era muito simples, com apenas algumas palavras como 'sim', 'não', 'quente' e 'frio'. Ele achou isso decepcionante porque o Wiff-Waff pertencia a dois tipos diferentes de peixes. Ele esperava que fosse muito útil.

En Stubbins pensou que, se o Wiff-Waff só conhecia duas ou três palavras, provavelmente não tinha muita inteligência.

En O Doutor concordou e sugeriu que a linguagem limitada do Wiff-Waff poderia ser por causa de seu estilo de vida. Ele explicou que os Wiff-Waffs são agora muito raros e preferem viver sozinhos no oceano profundo. Por serem solitários, ele supôs que não precisam se comunicar muito.

En Sugeri que talvez um marisco maior pudesse falar mais. Também perguntei se o marisco era muito pequeno.

En O Doutor concordou que alguns mariscos são bons conversadores. No entanto, explicou que os maiores são difíceis de encontrar porque vivem no fundo do mar e se movem lentamente pelo assoalho oceânico, por isso raramente são pegos em redes. Ele desejou encontrar uma maneira de ir ao fundo do mar para aprender mais. Então, perguntou se eu já havia tomado café da manhã.

En Eu disse ao Doutor que tinha me esquecido do café da manhã. Ele imediatamente me levou até a cozinha.

En Enquanto colocava água quente no bule, o Doutor mencionou que se alguém pudesse viajar até o fundo do mar e ficar lá por um tempo, descobriria coisas incríveis que as pessoas nunca imaginaram.

En Perguntei ao Doutor se pessoas como mergulhadores realmente vão até o fundo do mar.

En O Doutor explicou que mergulhadores podem descer no mar, e ele próprio havia usado um traje de mergulho. No entanto, ele observou que os mergulhadores só vão para partes rasas do mar. Ele expressou o desejo de explorar as partes mais profundas do oceano, com milhas de profundidade, e acreditava que poderia conseguir isso um dia. Em seguida, ofereceu outra xícara de chá à pessoa.

VOCÊ É UM BOM OBSERVADOR?

En Naquele momento, uma arara chamada Polinésia entrou na sala e falou com o Doutor em linguagem de pássaros. Embora o narrador não tenha entendido o que ela disse, o Doutor imediatamente parou de comer e saiu da sala.

En Depois que o Doutor saiu, a arara explicou que era uma pena porque, assim que ele voltava para casa, animais doentes de toda a região vinham até ele pedir ajuda. Ela mencionou uma lebre esperando do lado de fora com um filhote que poderia estar tendo convulsões por ter comido uma planta venenosa. A arara reclamou que os animais eram desconsiderados, chamando o Doutor durante as refeições ou acordando-o à noite. Ela sentia que o Doutor nunca tinha paz porque ele era muito bondoso e sempre concordava em ver animais com problemas urgentes imediatamente.

En O narrador perguntou à arara por que alguns animais não iam consultar outros médicos.

En A arara respondeu, surpresa, que não havia outros médicos de animais de verdade. Ela disse que, embora existissem veterinários, eles não eram úteis porque não entendiam a linguagem dos animais. Ela imaginou como seria difícil consultar um médico que não pudesse entendê-lo ou explicar as coisas em sua própria língua. Em seguida, pediu a alguém que mantivesse a comida do Doutor aquecida para ele.

En O menino perguntou a Polinésia se ele seria capaz de aprender a linguagem dos animais. Ele colocou o prato na lareira enquanto perguntava.

En Polinésia respondeu que dependia de suas habilidades. Ela perguntou a ele se ele era inteligente no aprendizado.

En O menino respondeu que não sabia, sentindo-se um pouco envergonhado. Ele explicou que nunca frequentou a escola porque seu pai era muito pobre para mandá-lo.

En O papagaio comentou que ele provavelmente não tinha perdido muito da escola, baseado em suas observações de meninos da escola. Ela então perguntou se ele era um bom observador, ou seja, se ele notava as coisas bem. Ela deu um exemplo: se ele visse dois estorninhos em uma macieira e olhasse para eles apenas uma vez, conseguiria identificá-los novamente no dia seguinte?

En O menino respondeu que não sabia, pois nunca havia tentado observar as coisas dessa maneira.

En Polinésia explicou que para aprender a linguagem dos animais, você precisa ser um bom observador. Isso significa perceber pequenos detalhes sobre como os animais se movem, como o jeito de andar, os movimentos da cabeça, o bater das asas, o faro e o balanço do rabo. Ela disse que muitos animais não falam com a língua. Em vez disso, usam a respiração, o rabo ou as patas. Isso porque, há muito tempo, eles tinham medo de ruídos altos de animais perigosos. Os pássaros não se preocupavam tanto porque podiam voar para longe. Polinésia enfatizou que ser um bom observador é muito importante para aprender a linguagem dos animais.

En O narrador disse que aprender a linguagem dos animais parecia bastante difícil.

En Polinésia disse ao narrador que ele precisaria ser muito paciente e que leva muito tempo para aprender. Ela se ofereceu para dar algumas aulas se ele visitasse com frequência. Ela explicou que aprender a linguagem dos animais poderia ajudar o Doutor Dolittle com tarefas mais fáceis, como dar remédios. Polinésia achou que era uma boa ideia o narrador ajudar o Doutor, especialmente se ele estivesse interessado em animais, para que o Doutor pudesse descansar um pouco.

En Polinésia repetiu que ser um bom observador é muito importante.

En O narrador disse animadamente que adoraria aprender e perguntou se o Doutor Dolittle permitiria que ele fizesse isso.

En Polinésia concordou. Ela explicou que o Doutor o ensinaria sobre medicina. Ela então disse a ele para ficar quieto porque ouviu o Doutor se aproximando e pediu que ele devolvesse rapidamente o bacon para a mesa.

O JARDIM DOS SONHOS

En Após o café da manhã, o Doutor mostrou ao narrador o jardim. O narrador achou o jardim muito interessante e muito maior do que pensava inicialmente. Parecia não ter fim, com novas partes para descobrir a cada esquina ou atrás de cada cerca viva.

PROLOGUE

Português

O escritor explica que tudo o que foi escrito sobre o Doutor Dolittle até agora foi ouvido de pessoas que o conheciam. Muitos desses eventos aconteceram antes de o escritor nascer. Agora, o escritor vai descrever a parte da vida do Doutor Dolittle que ele pessoalmente viu e da qual participou.

Original English

ALL THAT I have written so far about Doctor Dolittle I heard long after it happened from those who had known him — indeed a great deal of it took place before I was born. But I now come to set down that part of the great man's life which I myself saw and took part in.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle deu ao escritor permissão para escrever sobre sua vida há muitos anos. No entanto, eles estavam muito ocupados viajando pelo mundo, tendo aventuras e fazendo anotações. Por causa disso, o escritor nunca encontrou tempo para se sentar e escrever sobre suas experiências.

Original English

Many years ago the Doctor gave me permission to do this. But we were both of us so busy then voyaging around the world, having adventures and filling note-books full of natural history that I never seemed to get time to sit down and write of our doings.

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Português

O escritor agora é um homem idoso e percebe que sua memória não é tão boa como costumava ser. Quando ele não tem certeza sobre algo e precisa pensar, ele sempre pede ajuda a Polinésia, a arara.

Original English

Now of course, when I am quite an old man, my memory isn't so good any more. But whenever I am in doubt and have to hesitate and think, I always ask Polynesia, the parrot.

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Português

Polinésia, a arara, tem quase duzentos e cinquenta anos e fica sentada na mesa do escritor, geralmente cantarolando. Ela tem uma memória incrível. Se o escritor não tem certeza sobre algum evento, Polinésia pode lhe contar exatamente o que aconteceu, quem estava presente e todos os detalhes. O escritor até sente que Polinésia o ajuda a escrever o livro.

Original English

That wonderful bird (she is now nearly two hundred and fifty years old) sits on the top of my desk, usually humming sailor songs to herself, while I write this book. And, as every one who ever met her knows, Polynesia's memory is the most marvelous memory in the world. If there is any happening I am not quite sure of, she is always able to put me right, to tell me exactly how it took place, who was there and everything about it. In fact sometimes I almost think I ought to say that this book was written by Polynesia instead of me.

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Português

O escritor anuncia que agora vai começar a história. Ele vai primeiro falar sobre si mesmo e explicar como conheceu o Doutor Dolittle.

Original English

Very well then, I will begin. And first of all I must tell you something about myself and how I came to meet the Doctor.

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THE COBBLER'S SON

Português

O narrador era Tommy Stubbins, filho de um sapateiro. Ele tinha nove anos e meio e morava em Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. Naquela época, Puddleby era uma cidade pequena com um rio passando por ela. Uma ponte de pedra antiga, chamada Kingsbridge, cruzava o rio, ligando a praça do mercado ao cemitério.

Original English

MY NAME WAS Tommy Stubbins, son of Jacob Stubbins, the cobbler of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh; and I was nine and a half years old. At that time Puddleby was only quite a small town. A river ran through the middle of it; and over this river there was a very old stone bridge, called Kingsbridge, which led you from the market-place on one side to the churchyard on the other.

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Português

Navios à vela subiam o rio vindos do mar e paravam perto da ponte. Tommy frequentemente observava os marinheiros descarregando os navios. Eles cantavam músicas enquanto trabalhavam, e Tommy aprendia essas canções. Ele sentava-se à beira do rio e cantava junto, imaginando que ele próprio era um marinheiro.

Original English

Sailing-ships came up this river from the sea and anchored near the bridge. I used to go down and watch the sailors unloading the ships upon the river-wall. The sailors sang strange songs as they pulled upon the ropes; and I learned these songs by heart. And I would sit on the river-wall with my feet dangling over the water and sing with the men, pretending to myself that I too was a sailor.

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Português

Tommy realmente queria navegar para longe naqueles navios. Ele sonhava em viajar para lugares distantes como África, Índia, China e Peru para buscar fortuna. Mesmo quando os navios desapareciam na curva do rio, ele ainda podia ver suas grandes velas marrons se movendo lentamente sobre a cidade. Ele se perguntava que coisas incríveis eles veriam em suas jornadas e ficava observando até que desaparecessem completamente de vista.

Original English

For I longed always to sail away with those brave ships when they turned their backs on Puddleby Church and went creeping down the river again, across the wide lonely marshes to the sea. I longed to go with them out into the world to seek my fortune in foreign lands — Africa, India, China and Peru! When they got round the bend in the river and the water was hidden from view, you could still see their huge brown sails towering over the roofs of the town, moving onward slowly — like some gentle giants that walked among the houses without noise. What strange things would they have seen, I wondered, when next they came back to anchor at Kingsbridge! And, dreaming of the lands I had never seen, I'd sit on there, watching till they were out of sight.

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Português

Tommy tinha três bons amigos em Puddleby. Um era Joe, que vendia mexilhões e morava em uma pequena cabana debaixo da ponte. Joe era muito habilidoso com as mãos. Ele consertava os barcos de brinquedo de Tommy, construía moinhos de vento com madeira velha e fazia pipas fantásticas com guarda-chuvas descartados.

Original English

Three great friends I had in Puddleby in those days. One was Joe, the mussel-man, who lived in a tiny hut by the edge of the water under the bridge. This old man was simply marvelous at making things. I never saw a man so clever with his hands. He used to mend my toy ships for me which I sailed upon the river; he built windmills out of packing-cases and barrel-staves; and he could make the most wonderful kites from old umbrellas.

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Português

Às vezes, Joe levava Tommy em seu barco de mexilhões. Eles desciam o rio em direção ao mar para coletar mexilhões e lagostas para vender. Nos pântanos abertos, viam muitas aves selvagens, como gansos e maçaricos. Ao retornarem rio acima à noite, as luzes de Kingsbridge apareciam na luz fraca, lembrando-lhes que era hora do jantar e de um lar aquecido.

Original English

Joe would sometimes take me in his mussel-boat, and when the tide was running out we would paddle down the river as far as the edge of the sea to get mussels and lobsters to sell. And out there on the cold lonely marshes we would see wild geese flying, and curlews and redshanks and many other kinds of seabirds that live among the samfire and the long grass of the great salt fen. And as we crept up the river in the evening, when the tide had turned, we would see the lights on Kingsbridge twinkle in the dusk, reminding us of tea-time and warm fires.

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Português

O narrador costumava se sentar no muro ao lado do rio. Seus pés ficavam pendurados sobre a água.

Original English

"I would sit on the river-wall with my feet dangling over the water"

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Português

Outro amigo era Matthew Mugg, que vendia carne para gatos e cachorros. Ele tinha uma aparência incomum por causa de um estrabismo, mas era agradável de conversar. Ele conhecia todo mundo e todos os animais em Puddleby. Os vendedores de carne para gatos eram comuns e andavam pelas ruas com bandejas de carne em espetos, chamando os clientes. As pessoas compravam essa carne para seus animais de estimação em vez de dar restos de comida.

Original English

Another friend I had was Matthew Mugg, the cat's-meat-man. He was a funny old person with a bad squint. He looked rather awful but he was really quite nice to talk to. He knew everybody in Puddleby; and he knew all the dogs and all the cats. In those times being a cat's-meat-man was a regular business. And you could see one nearly any day going through the streets with a wooden tray full of pieces of meat stuck on skewers crying, "Meat! M-E-A-T!" People paid him to give this meat to their cats and dogs instead of feeding them on dog-biscuits or the scraps from the table.

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Português

O narrador gostava de ir com Matthew Mugg. Os animais vinham aos portões quando ouviam o chamado de Matthew. Às vezes, o narrador podia dar a carne aos animais ele mesmo, o que ele achava muito divertido. Matthew conhecia muitos tipos de cães e tinha vários. Um era um whippet rápido que vencia corridas, e outro era um terrier bom em pegar ratos. Matthew também trabalhava como caçador de ratos para fazendeiros.

Original English

I enjoyed going round with old Matthew and seeing the cats and dogs come running to the garden-gates whenever they heard his call. Sometimes he let me give the meat to the animals myself; and I thought this was great fun. He knew a lot about dogs and he would tell me the names of the different kinds as we went through the town. He had several dogs of his own; one, a whippet, was a very fast runner, and Matthew used to win prizes with her at the Saturday coursing races; another, a terrier, was a fine ratter. The cat's-meat-man used to make a business of rat-catching for the millers and farmers as well as his other trade of selling cat's-meat.

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Português

Luke, o Eremita, era o terceiro amigo importante do narrador. Mais informações sobre ele seriam compartilhadas depois.

Original English

My third great friend was Luke the Hermit. But of him I will tell you more later on.

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Português

O narrador não frequentava a escola porque seu pai não podia pagar. No entanto, ele tinha um grande amor pelos animais. Ele passava o tempo coletando ovos de pássaros e borboletas, pescando no rio, explorando o campo em busca de frutas e cogumelos, e ajudando um homem que vendia mexilhões a consertar suas redes.

Original English

I did not go to school; because my father was not rich enough to send me. But I was extremely fond of animals. So I used to spend my time collecting birds' eggs and butterflies, fishing in the river, rambling through the countryside after blackberries and mushrooms and helping the mussel-man mend his nets.

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Português

O escritor lembrava de sua infância como um tempo feliz, embora não pensasse assim na época. Ele tinha nove anos e meio e queria se tornar adulto. Desejava sair da casa de seu pai, navegar em navios e explorar o mundo para encontrar sua fortuna.

Original English

Yes, it was a very pleasant life I lived in those days long ago — though of course I did not think so then. I was nine and a half years old; and, like all boys, I wanted to grow up — not knowing how well off I was with no cares and nothing to worry me. Always I longed for the time when I should be allowed to leave my father's house, to take passage in one of those brave ships, to sail down the river through the misty marshes to the sea — out into the world to seek my fortune.

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I HEAR OF THE GREAT NATURALIST

Português

Uma manhã de primavera, o escritor estava caminhando nas colinas e viu um falcão segurando um esquilo. Quando o escritor se aproximou, o falcão se assustou, soltou o esquilo e voou para longe. O escritor pegou o esquilo e viu que suas pernas estavam gravemente feridas, então o carregou de volta para a cidade.

Original English

ONE EARLY MORNING in the Springtime, when I was wandering among the hills at the back of the town, I happened to come upon a hawk with a squirrel in its claws. It was standing on a rock and the squirrel was fighting very hard for its life. The hawk was so frightened when I came upon it suddenly like this, that it dropped the poor creature and flew away. I picked the squirrel up and found that two of its legs were badly hurt. So I carried it in my arms back to the town.

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Português

Quando o escritor chegou a uma ponte, entrou em uma cabana pertencente a um homem que trabalhava com mexilhões. Ele perguntou ao homem se ele poderia ajudar o esquilo ferido. O homem colocou os óculos, olhou para o esquilo com cuidado e depois balançou a cabeça.

Original English

When I came to the bridge I went into the mussel-man's hut and asked him if he could do anything for it. Joe put on his spectacles and examined it carefully. Then he shook his head.

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Português

O homem explicou que o esquilo tinha uma perna quebrada e outra perna gravemente cortada. Ele disse que podia consertar barcos, mas não tinha as habilidades ou ferramentas para ajudar o esquilo. Ele disse ao escritor que apenas um médico muito bom poderia salvar a vida do animal, e ele conhecia apenas uma pessoa que poderia fazer isso: John Dolittle.

Original English

"Yon crittur's got a broken leg," he said— "and another badly cut an' all. I can mend you your boats, Tom, but I haven't the tools nor the learning to make a broken squirrel seaworthy. This is a job for a surgeon — and for a right smart one an' all. There be only one man I know who could save yon crittur's life. And that's John Dolittle."

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Português

O escritor perguntou quem era John Dolittle e se ele era veterinário.

Original English

"Who is John Dolittle?" I asked. "Is he a vet?"

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Português

O homem dos mariscos disse não. Ele explicou que o Doutor Dolittle não era veterinário, mas sim naturalista.

Original English

"No," said the mussel-man. "He's no vet. Doctor Dolittle is a nacheralist."

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Português

Alguém perguntou o que era um naturalista.

Original English

"What's a nacheralist?"

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Português

Joe explicou que um naturalista é alguém que sabe muito sobre animais, plantas e rochas. Ele disse que John Dolittle era um naturalista muito importante. Joe ficou surpreso que a outra pessoa não tinha ouvido falar dele, especialmente porque ele sabia tanto sobre mariscos. Joe acrescentou que o Doutor Dolittle era calado, mas algumas pessoas acreditavam que ele era o maior naturalista do mundo.

Original English

"A nacheralist," said Joe, putting away his glasses and starting to fill his pipe, "is a man who knows all about animals and butterflies and plants and rocks an' all. John Dolittle is a very great nacheralist. I'm surprised you never heard of him — and you daft over animals. He knows a whole lot about shellfish — that I know from my own knowledge. He's a quiet man and don't talk much; but there's folks who do say he's the greatest nacheralist in the world."

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Português

O interlocutor perguntou onde o Doutor Dolittle morava.

Original English

"Where does he live?" I asked.

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Português

Joe disse que o Doutor Dolittle morava na Oxenthorpe Road, do outro lado da cidade. Ele sugeriu perguntar a alguém naquela área para encontrar a casa exata. Joe incentivou o interlocutor a visitá-lo, chamando-o de grande homem.

Original English

"Over on the Oxenthorpe Road, t'other side the town. Don't know just which house it is, but 'most anyone 'cross there could tell you, I reckon. Go and see him. He's a great man."

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Português

Depois de agradecer ao homem que vendia mexilhões, peguei meu esquilo e comecei a andar em direção à Estrada de Oxenthorpe.

Original English

So I thanked the mussel-man, took up my squirrel again and started off towards the Oxenthorpe Road.

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Português

Ao entrar na praça do mercado, o primeiro som que ouvi foi alguém gritando a palavra carne.

Original English

The first thing I heard as I came into the market-place was some one calling "Meat! M-E-A-T!"

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Português

Pensei comigo mesmo que era Matthew Mugg, e tinha certeza de que ele saberia onde o Doutor morava, pois Matthew conhecia todo mundo.

Original English

"There's Matthew Mugg," I said to myself. "He'll know where this Doctor lives. Matthew knows everyone."

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Português

Então, atravessei rapidamente a praça do mercado para alcançá-lo.

Original English

So I hurried across the market-place and caught him up.

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Português

Perguntei a Matthew se ele conhecia o Doutor Dolittle.

Original English

"Matthew," I said, "do you know Doctor Dolittle?"

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Português

O homem disse que conhecia John Dolittle muito bem, até melhor do que sua própria esposa. Ele achava que John Dolittle era uma pessoa muito importante.

Original English

"Do I know John Dolittle!" said he. "Well, I should think I do! I know him as well as I know my own wife — better, I sometimes think. He's a great man — a very great man."

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Português

Perguntei ao homem se ele poderia me mostrar a casa de John Dolittle. Expliquei que precisava levar um esquilo para ele porque a perna do animal estava quebrada.

Original English

"Can you show me where he lives?" I asked. "I want to take this squirrel to him. It has a broken leg."

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Português

O vendedor de carne para gatos concordou em ajudar. Ele disse que iria passar perto da casa de John Dolittle em breve e se ofereceu para me mostrar o caminho.

Original English

"Certainly," said the cat's-meat-man. "I'll be going right by his house directly. Come along and I'll show you."

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Português

Então, fomos juntos.

Original English

So off we went together.

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Português

Ao sairmos do mercado, Matthew explicou que conhecia John Dolittle há muito tempo. Ele acreditava que John Dolittle estava viajando, mas poderia voltar em breve. Matthew se ofereceu para me mostrar a casa dele para que eu soubesse onde encontrá-lo.

Original English

"Oh, I've known John Dolittle for years and years," said Matthew as we made our way out of the market-place. "But I'm pretty sure he ain't home just now. He's away on a voyage. But he's liable to be back any day. I'll show you his house and then you'll know where to find him."

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Português

Matthew falou muito sobre seu amigo, o Doutor Dolittle, durante o passeio. Ele falou tanto que se esqueceu de gritar "Carne!". Logo, eles notaram que muitos cães os seguiam pacientemente.

Original English

All the way down the Oxenthorpe Road Matthew hardly stopped talking about his great friend, Doctor John Dolittle— "M. D." He talked so much that he forgot all about calling out "Meat!" until we both suddenly noticed that we had a whole procession of dogs following us patiently.

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Português

Perguntei a Matthew para onde o Doutor havia ido em sua viagem. Matthew estava dando carne aos cães naquele momento.

Original English

"Where did the Doctor go to on this voyage?" I asked as Matthew handed round the meat to them.

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Português

Matthew respondeu que não sabia para onde o Doutor tinha ido. Ele explicou que ninguém nunca sabe quando o Doutor parte ou retorna. O Doutor vive sozinho com seus animais de estimação. Ele fez viagens importantes e descobriu coisas novas. Da última vez, ele contou a Matthew que encontrou uma tribo de índios norte-americanos no Oceano Pacífico. Eles viviam em duas ilhas, com os maridos em uma e as esposas na outra. Eles se encontravam uma vez por ano para uma grande celebração. Matthew disse que o Doutor é um homem muito inteligente e entende os animais melhor do que ninguém.

Original English

"I couldn't tell you," he answered. "Nobody never knows where he goes, nor when he's going, nor when he's coming back. He lives all alone except for his pets. He's made some great voyages and some wonderful discoveries. Last time he came back he told me he'd found a tribe of Red Indians in the Pacific Ocean — lived on two islands, they did. The husbands lived on one island and the wives lived on the other. Sensible people, some of them savages. They only met once a year, when the husbands came over to visit the wives for a great feast — Christmas-time, most likely. Yes, he's a wonderful man is the Doctor. And as for animals, well, there ain't no one knows as much about 'em as what he does."

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Português

Perguntei como o Doutor aprendeu tanto sobre animais.

Original English

"How did he get to know so much about animals?" I asked.

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Português

O homem que vendia carne para gatos parou e se abaixou para sussurrar para mim.

Original English

The cat's-meat-man stopped and leant down to whisper in my ear.

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Português

Ele explicou em uma voz profunda e incomum que conseguia entender a linguagem dos animais.

Original English

" He talks their language," he said in a hoarse, mysterious voice.

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Português

Fiquei surpreso e perguntei se ele realmente se referia à linguagem dos animais.

Original English

"The animals' language?" I cried.

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Português

Matthew confirmou que todos os animais têm uma linguagem, e o Doutor Dolittle entende todos eles, incluindo pássaros. Ele mencionou que mantinham essa habilidade em segredo porque as pessoas não acreditariam neles. Matthew acrescentou que o Doutor podia até escrever em línguas animais, criando livros em linguagem de macaco e poesia em linguagem de canário. Ele estava atualmente tentando aprender a linguagem dos mariscos, o que era difícil e o havia deixado doente. Matthew concluiu que o Doutor era um homem extraordinário.

Original English

"Why certainly," said Matthew. "All animals have some kind of a language. Some sorts talk more than others; some only speak in sign-language, like deaf-and-dumb. But the Doctor, he understands them all — birds as well as animals. We keep it a secret though, him and me, because folks only laugh at you when you speak of it. Why, he can even write animal-language. He reads aloud to his pets. He's wrote history-books in monkey-talk, poetry in canary language and comic songs for magpies to sing. It's a fact. He's now busy learning the language of the shellfish. But he says it's hard work — and he has caught some terrible colds, holding his head under water so much. He's a great man."

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Português

Concordei que o Doutor devia ser notável e expressei um forte desejo de conhecê-lo se ele estivesse em casa.

Original English

"He certainly must be," I said. "I do wish he were home so I could meet him."

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Português

O vendedor de carne de gato apontou a casa do Doutor, descrevendo-a como uma casa pequena localizada em uma curva da estrada, posicionada bem no alto de um muro acima da rua.

Original English

"Well, there's his house, look," said the cat's-meat-man— "that little one at the bend in the road there — the one high up — like it was sitting on the wall above the street."

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Português

Eles agora haviam chegado à borda da cidade. Matthew mostrou ao narrador uma pequena casa que ficava sozinha. Ela era cercada por um grande jardim, que era mais alto que a estrada. Para chegar ao portão da frente, eles tiveram que subir um conjunto de degraus no muro. O narrador podia ver muitas árvores frutíferas no jardim, pois seus galhos pendiam sobre o muro.

Original English

We were now come beyond the edge of the town. And the house that Matthew pointed out was quite a small one standing by itself. There seemed to be a big garden around it; and this garden was much higher than the road, so you had to go up a flight of steps in the wall before you reached the front gate at the top. I could see that there were many fine fruit trees in the garden, for their branches hung down over the wall in places. But the wall was so high I could not see anything else.

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Português

Matthew e o narrador subiram os degraus até o portão da frente, mas ele estava trancado. Um cachorro veio da casa. Um homem empurrou carne e sacos de comida através das grades do portão, e o cachorro os pegou. O cachorro não comeu a comida imediatamente, mas a carregou de volta para a casa. O cachorro tinha uma coleira larga e perceptível que parecia ser de latão. Depois disso, eles foram embora.

Original English

When we reached the house Matthew went up the steps to the front gate and I followed him. I thought he was going to go into the garden; but the gate was locked. A dog came running down from the house; and he took several pieces of meat which the cat's-meat-man pushed through the bars of the gate, and some paper bags full of corn and bran. I noticed that this dog did not stop to eat the meat, as any ordinary dog would have done, but he took all the things back to the house and disappeared. He had a curious wide collar round his neck which looked as though it were made of brass or something. Then we came away.

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Português

Matthew explicou que o Doutor ainda não havia retornado, e era por isso que o portão estava trancado.

Original English

"The Doctor isn't back yet," said Matthew, "or the gate wouldn't be locked."

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Português

O narrador perguntou a Matthew quais eram os itens nos sacos de papel que ele havia dado ao cachorro.

Original English

"What were all those things in paper-bags you gave the dog?" I asked.

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Português

Matthew respondeu que os itens eram comida para os animais. Ele mencionou que a casa do Doutor estava cheia de animais de estimação. Ele explicou que dava a comida ao cachorro quando o Doutor estava fora, e o cachorro então a dava aos outros animais.

Original English

"Oh, those were provisions," said Matthew— "things for the animals to eat. The Doctor's house is simply full of pets. I give the things to the dog, while the Doctor's away, and the dog gives them to the other animals."

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Português

Alguém perguntou sobre a coleira incomum do cachorro.

Original English

"And what was that curious collar he was wearing round his neck?"

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Português

Matthew explicou que era uma coleira de cachorro de ouro maciço. Ele disse que o Doutor a deu ao cachorro há muito tempo porque o cachorro havia salvado a vida de um homem.

Original English

"That's a solid gold dog-collar," said Matthew. "It was given to him when he was with the Doctor on one of his voyages long ago. He saved a man's life."

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Português

O narrador perguntou há quanto tempo o Doutor possuía o cachorro.

Original English

"How long has the Doctor had him?" I asked.

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Português

Matthew disse que Jip, o cachorro, era muito velho. Por causa disso, o Doutor não o levava mais em viagens. Jip ficava em casa para cuidar da casa. Matthew levava comida ao portão duas vezes por semana, e Jip não deixava ninguém entrar no jardim quando o Doutor estava fora. Matthew também mencionou que o portão estaria aberto se o Doutor tivesse voltado.

Original English

"Oh, a long time. Jip's getting pretty old now. That's why the Doctor doesn't take him on his voyages any more. He leaves him behind to take care of the house. Every Monday and Thursday I bring the food to the gate here and give it him through the bars. He never lets any one come inside the garden while the Doctor's away — not even me, though he knows me well. But you'll always be able to tell if the Doctor's back or not — because if he is, the gate will surely be open."

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Português

O narrador foi para casa cuidar de seu esquilo em uma caixa de palha até o Doutor voltar. Cada dia, o narrador visitava a casa com o jardim e verificava o portão. Às vezes, Jip, o cachorro, vinha ao portão, abanando o rabo, mas nunca permitia que o narrador entrasse no jardim.

Original English

So I went off home to my father's house and put my squirrel to bed in an old wooden box full of straw. And there I nursed him myself and took care of him as best I could till the time should come when the Doctor would return. And every day I went to the little house with the big garden on the edge of the town and tried the gate to see if it were locked. Sometimes the dog, Jip, would come down to the gate to meet me. But though he always wagged his tail and seemed glad to see me, he never let me come inside the garden.

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THE DOCTOR'S HOME

Português

Numa segunda-feira à tarde, em abril, meu pai me pediu para entregar alguns sapatos que ele havia consertado. Eu tinha que levá-los para uma casa do outro lado da cidade para o Coronel Bellowes, que era uma pessoa muito exigente.

Original English

ONE M ONDAY AFTERNOON towards the end of April my father asked me to take some shoes which he had mended to a house on the other side of the town. They were for a Colonel Bellowes who was very particular.

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Português

Encontrei a casa e toquei a campainha da porta da frente. O Coronel abriu a porta com o rosto vermelho e me disse para ir à porta dos fundos. Então ele fechou a porta rapidamente.

Original English

I found the house and rang the bell at the front door. The Colonel opened it, stuck out a very red face and said, "Go round to the tradesmen's entrance — go to the back door." Then he slammed the door shut.

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Português

Senti vontade de jogar os sapatos fora, mas não queria que meu pai ficasse bravo. Então fui para a porta dos fundos. A esposa do Coronel me encontrou lá e pegou os sapatos. Ela parecia tímida e tinha farinha nas mãos porque estava fazendo pão. Ela parecia muito assustada com o marido, cujos ruídos de raiva eu ainda podia ouvir. Ela perguntou baixinho se eu queria um pãozinho e um pouco de leite, e eu aceitei.

Original English

I felt inclined to throw the shoes into the middle of his flower-bed. But I thought my father might be angry, so I didn't. I went round to the back door, and there the Colonel's wife met me and took the shoes from me. She looked a timid little woman and had her hands all over flour as though she were making bread. She seemed to be terribly afraid of her husband whom I could still hear stumping round the house somewhere, grunting indignantly because I had come to the front door. Then she asked me in a whisper if I would have a bun and a glass of milk. And I said, "Yes, please."

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Português

Depois de comer o pãozinho e o leite, agradeci à esposa do Coronel e saí. Decidi visitar a casa do Doutor antes de ir para casa. Já tinha ido lá naquela manhã, mas queria verificar novamente porque meu esquilo não estava melhorando e eu estava começando a me preocupar com ele.

Original English

After I had eaten the bun and milk, I thanked the Colonel's wife and came away. Then I thought that before I went home I would go and see if the Doctor had come back yet. I had been to his house once already that morning. But I thought I'd just like to go and take another look. My squirrel wasn't getting any better and I was beginning to be worried about him.

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Português

Então virei na Oxenthorpe Road e comecei a andar em direção à casa do Doutor. No caminho, notei que o céu estava ficando nublado e parecia que ia chover.

Original English

So I turned into the Oxenthorpe Road and started off towards the Doctor's house. On the way I noticed that the sky was clouding over and that it looked as though it might rain.

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Português

O narrador chegou ao portão, mas descobriu que ainda estava trancado. Ele se sentiu muito decepcionado porque vinha ali todos os dias há uma semana. O cachorro, Jip, veio ao portão, abanou o rabo como de costume e depois sentou-se para observar atentamente, certificando-se de que o narrador não conseguisse entrar.

Original English

I reached the gate and found it still locked. I felt very discouraged. I had been coming here every day for a week now. The dog, Jip, came to the gate and wagged his tail as usual, and then sat down and watched me closely to see that I didn't get in.

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Português

O narrador começou a se preocupar que seu esquilo pudesse morrer antes do Doutor voltar. Sentindo-se triste, ele se virou, desceu os degraus até a estrada e voltou para casa.

Original English

I began to fear that my squirrel would die before the Doctor came back. I turned away sadly, went down the steps on to the road and turned towards home again.

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Português

O narrador se perguntou se já era hora do jantar. Ele não tinha relógio, mas viu um cavalheiro caminhando em sua direção. Era o Coronel, que estava passeando. Ele usava muitas roupas elegantes e quentes e parecia um travesseiro enrolado em cobertores. O narrador pediu que ele lhe dissesse as horas.

Original English

I wondered if it were supper-time yet. Of course I had no watch of my own, but I noticed a gentleman coming towards me down the road; and when he got nearer I saw it was the Colonel out for a walk. He was all wrapped up in smart overcoats and mufflers and bright-colored gloves. It was not a very cold day but he had so many clothes on he looked like a pillow inside a roll of blankets. I asked him if he would please tell me the time.

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Português

O Coronel parou e olhou para o narrador com o rosto muito vermelho, que ficou ainda mais vermelho. Quando falou, sua voz parecia uma rolha saindo de uma garrafa de refrigerante.

Original English

He stopped, grunted and glared down at me — his red face growing redder still; and when he spoke it sounded like the cork coming out of a gingerbeer-bottle.

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Português

O Coronel perguntou se o narrador realmente achava que ele iria desabotoar suas roupas só para dizer as horas a um garotinho. Então, ele foi embora rua abaixo, fazendo barulhos de resmungo mais altos do que antes.

Original English

"Do you imagine for one moment," he spluttered, "that I am going to get myself all unbuttoned just to tell a little boy like you the time !" And he went stumping down the street, grunting harder than ever.

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Português

O narrador observou alguém se afastar. Ele pensou sobre quantos anos precisaria ter para que essa pessoa olhasse o relógio. De repente, começou a chover muito forte.

Original English

I stood still a moment looking after him and wondering how old I would have to be, to have him go to the trouble of getting his watch out. And then, all of a sudden, the rain came down in torrents.

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Português

A chuva era extremamente forte, tornando tudo escuro como a noite. O vento soprava com força, trovões soavam e relâmpagos brilhavam. A estrada rapidamente alagou como um rio. Sem abrigo por perto, o narrador baixou a cabeça contra o vento forte e correu para casa.

Original English

I have never seen it rain so hard. It got dark, almost like night. The wind began to blow; the thunder rolled; the lightning flashed, and in a moment the gutters of the road were flowing like a river. There was no place handy to take shelter, so I put my head down against the driving wind and started to run towards home.

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Português

Enquanto corria, o narrador esbarrou em algo macio e caiu na calçada. Ele olhou para cima para ver em quem havia batido. Na sua frente estava sentado um homem pequeno e redondo, com um rosto bondoso. O homem usava um chapéu velho e segurava uma pequena bolsa preta.

Original English

I hadn't gone very far when my head bumped into something soft and I sat down suddenly on the pavement. I looked up to see whom I had run into. And there in front of me, sitting on the wet pavement like myself, was a little round man with a very kind face. He wore a shabby high hat and in his hand he had a small black bag.

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Português

O narrador se desculpou, explicando que estava com a cabeça baixa e não tinha visto o homem se aproximar.

Original English

"I'm very sorry," I said. "I had my head down and I didn't see you coming."

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Português

Para a surpresa do narrador, o homenzinho não ficou bravo por ter sido derrubado. Em vez disso, ele começou a rir.

Original English

To my great surprise, instead of getting angry at being knocked down, the little man began to laugh.

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Português

O homem disse à pessoa que algo o lembrava de uma época na Índia. Ele explicou que durante uma tempestade, ele esbarrou em uma mulher que estava carregando melaço na cabeça. Ele ficou com melado no cabelo, e moscas o incomodaram por semanas. Ele então perguntou se tinha machucado a pessoa.

Original English

"You know this reminds me," he said, "of a time once when I was in India. I ran full tilt into a woman in a thunderstorm. But she was carrying a pitcher of molasses on her head and I had treacle in my hair for weeks afterwards — the flies followed me everywhere. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

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Português

A pessoa respondeu que não estava machucada e que estava bem.

Original English

"No," I said. "I'm all right."

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Português

O homenzinho disse que também era culpa dele porque ele não estava olhando para onde ia. Ele sugeriu que não deveriam ficar conversando na chuva. Ele achava que ambos estavam muito molhados e perguntou à outra pessoa quanto mais eles tinham que andar.

Original English

"It was just as much my fault as it was yours, you know," said the little man. "I had my head down too — but look here, we mustn't sit talking like this. You must be soaked. I know I am. How far have you got to go?"

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Português

A pessoa respondeu que sua casa ficava do outro lado da cidade.

Original English

"My home is on the other side of the town," I said, as we picked ourselves up.

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Português

O homem comentou que a calçada estava muito molhada. Ele percebeu que a chuva estava ficando mais forte. Ele convidou a pessoa para sua casa para que pudessem se secar, dizendo que uma tempestade como essa não duraria muito mais tempo.

Original English

"My Goodness, but that was a wet pavement!" said he. "And I declare it's coming down worse than ever. Come along to my house and get dried. A storm like this can't last."

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Português

O homem pegou minha mão e corremos de volta pela estrada. Enquanto corríamos, eu me perguntava sobre esse homenzinho engraçado e onde ele morava. Eu era um estranho para ele, mas ele estava me levando para sua casa para me secar. Isso era muito diferente do Coronel antipático que havia se recusado a me ajudar. Logo, paramos.

Original English

He took hold of my hand and we started running back down the road together. As we ran I began to wonder who this funny little man could be, and where he lived. I was a perfect stranger to him, and yet he was taking me to his own home to get dried. Such a change, after the old red-faced Colonel who had refused even to tell me the time! Presently we stopped.

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Português

O homem disse que eles haviam chegado.

Original English

"Here we are," he said.

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Português

Olhei para cima e vi que estávamos nos degraus da pequena casa com o grande jardim. Meu novo amigo já estava subindo os degraus e abrindo o portão com chaves do bolso.

Original English

I looked up to see where we were and found myself back at the foot of the steps leading to the little house with the big garden! My new friend was already running up the steps and opening the gate with some keys he took from his pocket.

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Português

Pensei comigo mesmo que aquilo não poderia ser o famoso Doutor Dolittle.

Original English

"Surely," I thought, "this cannot be the great Doctor Dolittle himself!"

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Português

Eu imaginava que o Doutor Dolittle seria muito alto e forte. Era difícil acreditar que aquele homenzinho de rosto bondoso e sorridente era ele. No entanto, ele estava lá, subindo os degraus e abrindo o portão que eu observava há muitos dias.

Original English

I suppose after hearing so much about him I had expected some one very tall and strong and marvelous. It was hard to believe that this funny little man with the kind smiling face could be really he. Yet here he was, sure enough, running up the steps and opening the very gate which I had been watching for so many days!

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Português

Jip, o cachorro, saiu correndo animadamente. Ele pulou e latiu feliz. A chuva estava caindo muito forte.

Original English

The dog, Jip, came rushing out and started jumping up on him and barking with happiness. The rain was splashing down heavier than ever.

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Português

Enquanto eu subia apressado pelo curto caminho do jardim em direção à casa, gritei para perguntar se ele era o Doutor Dolittle.

Original English

"Are you Doctor Dolittle?" I shouted as we sped up the short garden-path to the house.

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Português

Ele confirmou que era o Doutor Dolittle e abriu a porta da frente. Ele me convidou para entrar, dizendo para não me preocupar em limpar os pés ou com a lama.

Original English

"Yes, I'm Doctor Dolittle," said he, opening the front door with the same bunch of keys. "Get in! Don't bother about wiping your feet. Never mind the mud. Take it in with you. Get in out of the rain!"

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Português

Eu entrei, seguido por ele e Jip. Ele então fechou a porta atrás de nós.

Original English

I popped in, he and Jip following. Then he slammed the door to behind us.

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Português

Dentro da casa, estava muito escuro. Eu ouvi um barulho extremamente estranho, como muitos animais e pássaros fazendo sons ao mesmo tempo. Eu podia sentir animais se movendo, e coisas esbarravam em mim. O hall inteiro parecia estar se enchendo de animais. O barulho alto, combinado com a chuva, era avassalador. Comecei a me sentir um pouco assustado quando o Doutor pegou meu braço e gritou no meu ouvido.

Original English

The storm had made it dark enough outside; but inside the house, with the door closed, it was as black as night. Then began the most extraordinary noise that I have ever heard. It sounded like all sorts and kinds of animals and birds calling and squeaking and screeching at the same time. I could hear things trundling down the stairs and hurrying along passages. Somewhere in the dark a duck was quacking, a cock was crowing, a dove was cooing, an owl was hooting, a lamb was bleating and Jip was barking. I felt birds' wings fluttering and fanning near my face. Things kept bumping into my legs and nearly upsetting me. The whole front hall seemed to be filling up with animals. The noise, together with the roaring of the rain, was tremendous; and I was beginning to grow a little bit scared when I felt the Doctor take hold of my arm and shout into my ear.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle disse à pessoa para não ter medo. Explicou que os animais eram seus animais de estimação e estavam felizes por ele ter voltado depois de ficar ausente por três meses. Pediu que a pessoa ficasse parada enquanto tentava fazer uma luz. Também mencionou o trovão alto e a tempestade forte.

Original English

"Don't be alarmed. Don't be frightened. These are just some of my pets. I've been away three months and they are glad to see me home again. Stand still where you are till I strike a light. My Gracious, what a storm! — Just listen to that thunder!"

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Português

O narrador ficou na escuridão total, com muitos animais invisíveis se movendo ao redor. Parecia estranho. O narrador frequentemente pensara em como seriam o Doutor Dolittle e sua casa, mas isso era muito diferente do que imaginara. Depois que o Doutor Dolittle tocou seu braço, o narrador se sentiu confuso, mas não assustado. Parecia um sonho estranho, e ele se perguntou se estava realmente acordado quando o Doutor Dolittle falou novamente.

Original English

So there I stood in the pitch-black dark, while all kinds of animals which I couldn't see chattered and jostled around me. It was a curious and a funny feeling. I had often wondered, when I had looked in from the front gate, what Doctor Dolittle would be like and what the funny little house would have inside it. But I never imagined it would be anything like this. Yet somehow after I had felt the Doctor's hand upon my arm I was not frightened, only confused. It all seemed like some queer dream; and I was beginning to wonder if I was really awake, when I heard the Doctor speaking again:

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle explicou que seus fósforos estavam molhados e não acendiam. Perguntou se a outra pessoa tinha alguns fósforos.

Original English

"My blessed matches are all wet. They won't strike. Have you got any?"

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Português

O narrador respondeu que não tinha fósforos.

Original English

"No, I'm afraid I haven't," I called back.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle disse que não era um problema. Sugeriu que talvez Dab-Dab pudesse encontrar uma maneira de fazer alguma luz.

Original English

"Never mind," said he. "Perhaps Dab-Dab can raise us a light somewhere."

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Português

O Doutor fez alguns sons estranhos de clique com a língua. Depois disso, alguém subiu as escadas novamente e começou a se mover nos quartos do andar de cima.

Original English

Then the Doctor made some funny clicking noises with his tongue and I heard some one trundle up the stairs again and start moving about in the rooms above.

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Português

Então, eles esperaram por um longo tempo, mas nada aconteceu.

Original English

Then we waited quite a while without anything happening.

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Português

O narrador perguntou se a luz chegaria logo. Ele explicou que um animal estava sentado em seu pé e seus dedos estavam ficando dormentes.

Original English

"Will the light be long in coming?" I asked. "Some animal is sitting on my foot and my toes are going to sleep."

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Português

O Doutor respondeu que levaria apenas um minuto e que ela voltaria muito em breve.

Original English

"No, only a minute," said the Doctor. "She'll be back in a minute."

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Português

Naquele momento, o narrador viu os primeiros sinais de luz do patamar acima. Imediatamente, todos os animais ficaram em silêncio.

Original English

And just then I saw the first glimmerings of a light around the landing above. At once all the animals kept quiet.

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Português

Foi mencionado que ela carregava uma vela acesa no pé direito.

Original English

"And in her right foot she carried a lighted candle!"

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Português

O narrador disse ao Doutor que pensava que ele morava sozinho.

Original English

"I thought you lived alone," I said to the Doctor.

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Português

O Doutor confirmou que morava sozinho e explicou que Dab-Dab era quem estava trazendo a luz.

Original English

"So I do," said he. "It is Dab-Dab who is bringing the light."

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Português

Olhando para cima da escada, o narrador tentou ver quem estava vindo, mas não conseguiu ver além do patamar. Um som estranho foi ouvido do andar de cima, como se alguém estivesse descendo as escadas pulando em uma perna só.

Original English

I looked up the stairs trying to make out who was coming. I could not see around the landing but I heard the most curious footstep on the upper flight. It sounded like some one hopping down from one step to the other, as though he were using only one leg.

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Português

À medida que a luz se aproximava, ficava mais brilhante e projetava sombras incomuns e móveis nas paredes.

Original English

As the light came lower, it grew brighter and began to throw strange jumping shadows on the walls.

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Português

O Doutor expressou seu alívio e felicidade, dizendo que Dab-Dab tinha chegado.

Original English

"Ah — at last!" said the Doctor. "Good old Dab-Dab!"

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Português

O narrador sentiu como se estivesse sonhando quando um pato branco apareceu. O pato estava espiando ao redor de uma esquina, descendo as escadas pulando em uma perna só e carregando uma vela acesa em seu pé.

Original English

And then I thought I really must be dreaming. For there, craning her neck round the bend of the landing, hopping down the stairs on one leg, came a spotless white duck. And in her right foot she carried a lighted candle!

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THE WIFF-WAFF

Português

Quando o narrador pôde olhar ao redor, ele viu que o salão estava cheio de muitos tipos diferentes de animais do campo. Havia pássaros como um pombo e uma gralha, um rato branco, uma coruja e um texugo. Um porquinho, que tinha acabado de entrar do jardim chuvoso, estava cuidadosamente limpando seus pés no tapete, e a luz da vela brilhava em suas costas molhadas.

Original English

WHEN AT LAST I could look around me I found that the hall was indeed simply full of animals. It seemed to me that almost every kind of creature from the countryside must be there: a pigeon, a white rat, an owl, a badger, a jackdaw — there was even a small pig, just in from the rainy garden, carefully wiping his feet on the mat while the light from the candle glistened on his wet pink back.

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Português

O Doutor pegou o castiçal da pata e então se virou para falar com o narrador.

Original English

The Doctor took the candlestick from the duck and turned to me.

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Português

O Doutor disse ao narrador que ele precisava tirar suas roupas molhadas. Ele também perguntou ao narrador seu nome.

Original English

"Look here," he said: "you must get those wet clothes off — by the way, what is your name?"

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Português

O narrador disse ao menino que seu nome era Tommy Stubbins.

Original English

"Tommy Stubbins," I said.

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Português

O Doutor perguntou a Tommy se ele era filho de Jacob Stubbins, um sapateiro.

Original English

"Oh, are you the son of Jacob Stubbins, the shoemaker?"

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Português

Tommy respondeu que sim.

Original English

"Yes," I said.

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Português

O Doutor disse que o pai de Tommy era um sapateiro muito bom. Ele mostrou a Tommy as botas grandes que seu pai havia feito para ele quatro anos antes, as quais ele ainda usava. O Doutor disse a Tommy para trocar suas roupas molhadas rapidamente. Ele disse que encontrariam algumas roupas secas para ele no andar de cima, e Tommy usaria um terno velho do Doutor até que suas próprias roupas estivessem secas perto do fogo da cozinha.

Original English

"Excellent bootmaker, your father," said the Doctor. "You see these?" and he held up his right foot to show me the enormous boots he was wearing. "Your father made me those boots four years ago, and I've been wearing them ever since — perfectly wonderful boots — Well now, look here, Stubbins. You've got to change those wet things — and quick. Wait a moment till I get some more candles lit, and then we'll go upstairs and find some dry clothes. You'll have to wear an old suit of mine till we can get yours dry again by the kitchen-fire."

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Português

Depois que mais velas foram acesas, eles subiram. Em um quarto, o Doutor pegou dois ternos velhos de um guarda-roupa, e eles os vestiram. Levaram suas roupas molhadas para a cozinha e acenderam uma fogueira. O casaco do Doutor que Tommy estava usando era muito grande, e ele continuava pisando nas abas. Logo, uma grande fogueira estava queimando, e eles penduraram suas roupas molhadas em cadeiras para secar.

Original English

So presently when more candles had been lighted round different parts of the house, we went upstairs; and when we had come into a bedroom the Doctor opened a big wardrobe and took out two suits of old clothes. These we put on. Then we carried our wet ones down to the kitchen and started a fire in the big chimney. The coat of the Doctor's which I was wearing was so large for me that I kept treading on my own coat-tails while I was helping to fetch the wood up from the cellar. But very soon we had a huge big fire blazing up the chimney and we hung our wet clothes around on chairs.

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Português

O Doutor disse que era hora de cozinhar o jantar. Ele perguntou a Stubbins se ele gostaria de ficar e comer com ele.

Original English

"Now let's cook some supper," said the Doctor.— "You'll stay and have supper with me, Stubbins, of course?"

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Português

O narrador estava começando a gostar do Doutor porque ele o chamava de Stubbins e o tratava como um amigo adulto. Ele se sentiu orgulhoso e feliz por ser convidado para o jantar. No entanto, de repente lembrou que não tinha avisado a mãe que ficaria fora até tarde, então respondeu tristemente.

Original English

Already I was beginning to be very fond of this funny little man who called me "Stubbins," instead of "Tommy" or "little lad" (I did so hate to be called "little lad"!) This man seemed to begin right away treating me as though I were a grown-up friend of his. And when he asked me to stop and have supper with him I felt terribly proud and happy. But I suddenly remembered that I had not told my mother that I would be out late. So very sadly I answered,

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Português

O narrador explicou que gostaria de ficar para o jantar. Mas ele estava preocupado que sua mãe começasse a se preocupar e se perguntar onde ele estava se ele não voltasse para casa logo.

Original English

"Thank you very much. I would like to stay, but I am afraid that my mother will begin to worry and wonder where I am if I don't get back."

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Português

O Doutor disse a Stubbins que suas roupas ainda não estavam secas e que ele teria que esperar por elas. Ele disse que quando suas roupas estivessem prontas, eles já teriam terminado de jantar. O Doutor então perguntou a Stubbins se ele tinha visto onde ele colocou sua bolsa.

Original English

"Oh, but my dear Stubbins," said the Doctor, throwing another log of wood on the fire, "your clothes aren't dry yet. You'll have to wait for them, won't you? By the time they are ready to put on we will have supper cooked and eaten — Did you see where I put my bag?"

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Português

O narrador pensou que a bolsa ainda estava no hall. Ele se ofereceu para ir verificar.

Original English

"I think it is still in the hall," I said. "I'll go and see."

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Português

Encontrei uma bolsa de couro preto velha perto da porta da frente. Parecia muito antiga. Uma de suas travas estava quebrada e ela estava amarrada no meio com um pedaço de barbante.

Original English

I found the bag near the front door. It was made of black leather and looked very, very old. One of its latches was broken and it was tied up round the middle with a piece of string.

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Português

Quando levei a bolsa para o Doutor, ele me agradeceu.

Original English

"Thank you," said the Doctor when I brought it to him.

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Português

Perguntei ao Doutor se aquela bolsa era toda a bagagem que ele tinha para sua viagem.

Original English

"Was that bag all the luggage you had for your voyage?" I asked.

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Português

O Doutor confirmou que sim. Ele explicou que não gostava de carregar muita bagagem porque era um incômodo e não era realmente necessário. Então ele se perguntou onde tinha colocado suas salsichas.

Original English

"Yes," said the Doctor, as he undid the piece of string. "I don't believe in a lot of baggage. It's such a nuisance. Life's too short to fuss with it. And it isn't really necessary, you know — Where did I put those sausages?"

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Português

O Doutor procurou dentro da bolsa. Primeiro, ele tirou um pão fresco. Depois, ele retirou um pote de vidro com uma tampa de metal especial. Ele segurou o pote cuidadosamente contra a luz, mostrando uma estranha criatura aquática nadando lá dentro, antes de colocá-lo sobre a mesa. Finalmente, o Doutor tirou um quilo de salsichas.

Original English

The Doctor was feeling about inside the bag. First he brought out a loaf of new bread. Next came a glass jar with a curious metal top to it. He held this up to the light very carefully before he set it down upon the table; and I could see that there was some strange little water-creature swimming about inside. At last the Doctor brought out a pound of sausages.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle disse que eles estavam procurando uma frigideira.

Original English

"Now," he said, "all we want is a frying-pan."

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Português

Eles foram à copa e encontraram panelas penduradas na parede. O Doutor Dolittle pegou a frigideira, que estava enferrujada por dentro.

Original English

We went into the scullery and there we found some pots and pans hanging against the wall. The Doctor took down the frying-pan. It was quite rusty on the inside.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle notou a frigideira enferrujada e explicou que, embora os animais mantivessem a casa limpa, eles não conseguiam cuidar de certas tarefas. Ele pediu a Stubbins que trouxesse um pouco de areia fina de debaixo da pia para limpar a panela.

Original English

"Dear me, just look at that!" said he. "That's the worst of being away so long. The animals are very good and keep the house wonderfully clean as far as they can. Dab-Dab is a perfect marvel as a housekeeper. But some things of course they can't manage. Never mind, we'll soon clean it up. You'll find some silver-sand down there, under the sink, Stubbins. Just hand it up to me, will you?"

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Português

Em pouco tempo, eles limparam a panela até que ela ficasse brilhante. Em seguida, cozinharam salsichas no fogo da cozinha, e um cheiro agradável se espalhou pela casa.

Original English

In a few moments we had the pan all shiny and bright and the sausages were put over the kitchen-fire and a beautiful frying smell went all through the house.

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Português

Enquanto o Doutor Dolittle estava ocupado cozinhando, o narrador olhou novamente para a pequena e incomum criatura nadando no vidro.

Original English

While the Doctor was busy at the cooking I went and took another look at the funny little creature swimming about in the glass jar.

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Português

O narrador perguntou o que era o animal.

Original English

"What is this animal?" I asked.

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Português

O Doutor explicou que o animal era um Wiff-Waff, cujo nome científico era hippocampus pippitopitus. Ele disse que os nativos o chamavam de Wiff-Waff por causa da maneira como movia o rabo ao nadar. Ele tinha ido em sua viagem recente para encontrar um. Ele estava atualmente ocupado tentando aprender a língua dos mariscos, pois tinha certeza de que eles tinham suas próprias línguas. Ele mencionou que já falava um pouco de língua de tubarão e de golfinho, mas seu principal objetivo agora era aprender a língua dos mariscos.

Original English

"Oh that," said the Doctor, turning round— "that's a Wiff-Waff. Its full name is hippocampus pippitopitus. But the natives just call it a Wiff-Waff — on account of the way it waves its tail, swimming, I imagine. That's what I went on this last voyage for, to get that. You see I'm very busy just now trying to learn the language of the shellfish. They have languages, of that I feel sure. I can talk a little shark language and porpoise dialect myself. But what I particularly want to learn now is shellfish."

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Português

O narrador perguntou o motivo.

Original English

"Why?" I asked.

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Português

O Doutor explicou que alguns mariscos estão entre os animais mais antigos conhecidos. Suas conchas fossilizadas são encontradas em rochas, datando de milhares de anos. Ele acreditava que, ao aprender a língua deles, poderia descobrir muito sobre o mundo nos tempos antigos.

Original English

"Well, you see, some of the shellfish are the oldest kind of animals in the world that we know of. We find their shells in the rocks — turned to stone — thousands of years old. So I feel quite sure that if I could only get to talk their language, I should be able to learn a whole lot about what the world was like ages and ages and ages ago. You see?"

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Português

O narrador perguntou se outros animais também poderiam lhe fornecer essa informação.

Original English

"But couldn't some of the other animals tell you as well?"

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle não achava que os macacos soubessem a história mais antiga. Ele explicou que os macacos que conheceu na África podiam contar sobre o passado, mas apenas por cerca de mil anos. Ele tinha certeza de que os mariscos conheciam a história mais antiga do mundo. Ele acrescentou que a maioria dos outros animais de tempos antigos já havia desaparecido.

Original English

"I don't think so," said the Doctor, prodding the sausages with a fork. "To be sure, the monkeys I knew in Africa some time ago were very helpful in telling me about bygone days; but they only went back a thousand years or so. No, I am certain that the oldest history in the world is to be had from the shellfish — and from them only. You see most of the other animals that were alive in those very ancient times have now become extinct."

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Português

O narrador perguntou ao Doutor Dolittle se ele já havia aprendido a falar com mariscos.

Original English

"Have you learned any shellfish language yet?" I asked.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle respondeu que tinha apenas começado. Ele havia viajado para o Mediterrâneo Oriental para encontrar um peixe-cachimbo especial, que era metade marisco e metade peixe comum. No entanto, ele estava preocupado que não fosse muito útil. Ele admitiu que estava desapontado com sua aparência e não achava que parecesse muito inteligente.

Original English

"No. I've only just begun. I wanted this particular kind of a pipe-fish because he is half a shellfish and half an ordinary fish. I went all the way to the Eastern Mediterranean after him. But I'm very much afraid he isn't going to be a great deal of help to me. To tell you the truth, I'm rather disappointed in his appearance. He doesn't look very intelligent, does he?"

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Português

O narrador concordou que o peixe não parecia inteligente.

Original English

"No, he doesn't," I agreed.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle anunciou que as salsichas estavam perfeitamente cozidas. Ele convidou o narrador a estender o prato para que pudesse servir um pouco.

Original English

"Ah," said the Doctor. "The sausages are done to a turn. Come along — hold your plate near and let me give you some."

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Português

Nós nos sentamos à mesa da cozinha e começamos a comer uma grande refeição.

Original English

Then we sat down at the kitchen-table and started a hearty meal.

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Português

A cozinha era um lugar muito agradável para comer, mais confortável do que qualquer sala de jantar formal. Tinha uma sensação acolhedora e caseira. A comida era fácil de pegar, retirada diretamente do fogo para a mesa. O narrador podia ver a torrada torrando e pegar sal de uma caixa nas proximidades sem se mover muito. A grande lareira era como um cômodo em si, com assentos onde as pessoas podiam sentar-se dentro, assar castanhas, ouvir a chaleira ou olhar livros à luz do fogo. A cozinha foi descrita como confortável, sensata, amigável e sólida, como o próprio Doutor.

Original English

It was a wonderful kitchen, that. I had many meals there afterwards and I found it a better place to eat in than the grandest dining-room in the world. It was so cozy and home-like and warm. It was so handy for the food too. You took it right off the fire, hot, and put it on the table and ate it. And you could watch your toast toasting at the fender and see it didn't burn while you drank your soup. And if you had forgotten to put the salt on the table, you didn't have to get up and go into another room to fetch it; you just reached round and took the big wooden box off the dresser behind you. Then the fireplace — the biggest fireplace you ever saw — was like a room in itself. You could get right inside it even when the logs were burning and sit on the wide seats either side and roast chestnuts after the meal was over — or listen to the kettle singing, or tell stories, or look at picture-books by the light of the fire. It was a marvelous kitchen. It was like the Doctor, comfortable, sensible, friendly and solid.

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Português

Enquanto eles comiam, a porta se abriu. Dab-Dab, a pata, e Jip, o cachorro, entraram, arrastando lençóis e fronhas pelo chão. O narrador ficou surpreso, e o Doutor explicou a situação.

Original English

While we were gobbling away, the door suddenly opened and in marched the duck, Dab-Dab, and the dog, Jip, dragging sheets and pillow-cases behind them over the clean tiled floor. The Doctor, seeing how surprised I was, explained:

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Português

O Doutor explicou que Dab-Dab e Jip estavam arejando a roupa de cama perto do fogo. Ele elogiou Dab-Dab como uma excelente governanta, melhor do que sua irmã Sarah havia sido. Então, ele ofereceu outra salsicha ao narrador.

Original English

"They're just going to air the bedding for me in front of the fire. Dab-Dab is a perfect treasure of a housekeeper; she never forgets anything. I had a sister once who used to keep house for me (poor, dear Sarah! I wonder how she's getting on — I haven't seen her in many years). But she wasn't nearly as good as Dab-Dab. Have another sausage?"

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Português

O Doutor falou com o cachorro e a pata usando uma linguagem estranha e sinais. Eles pareciam entendê-lo perfeitamente.

Original English

The Doctor turned and said a few words to the dog and duck in some strange talk and signs. They seemed to understand him perfectly.

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Português

O interlocutor perguntou ao Doutor Dolittle se ele podia falar a língua dos esquilos.

Original English

"Can you talk in squirrel language?" I asked.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle disse que falar a língua dos esquilos era uma língua fácil e podia ser aprendida sem muita dificuldade. Ele então perguntou por que o interlocutor estava perguntando.

Original English

"Oh yes. That's quite an easy language," said the Doctor. "You could learn that yourself without a great deal of trouble. But why do you ask?"

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Português

O interlocutor explicou que tinha um esquilo doente em casa, que havia resgatado de um falcão. O esquilo tinha duas pernas gravemente feridas, e o interlocutor queria saber se o Doutor Dolittle poderia examiná-lo, talvez no dia seguinte.

Original English

"Because I have a sick squirrel at home," I said. "I took it away from a hawk. But two of its legs are badly hurt and I wanted very much to have you see it, if you would. Shall I bring it to-morrow?"

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle decidiu que, se a perna do esquilo estivesse seriamente quebrada, ele deveria vê-lo naquela noite. Ele mencionou que poderia ser tarde demais para ajudar muito, mas concordou em ir com o interlocutor para examinar o animal.

Original English

"Well, if its leg is badly broken I think I had better see it to-night. It may be too late to do much; but I'll come home with you and take a look at it."

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Português

As roupas do interlocutor estavam secas perto do fogo. Ele subiu para trocar de roupa e, quando voltou, o Doutor Dolittle estava pronto. Ele tinha sua bolsa cheia de medicamentos e ataduras.

Original English

So presently we felt the clothes by the fire and mine were found to be quite dry. I took them upstairs to the bedroom and changed, and when I came down the Doctor was all ready waiting for me with his little black bag full of medicines and bandages.

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Português

Ele convidou a outra pessoa para ir com ele, dizendo que a chuva tinha parado.

Original English

"Come along," he said. "The rain has stopped now."

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Português

Estava claro lá fora novamente. O céu da tarde estava vermelho do pôr do sol, e os pássaros cantavam no jardim enquanto eles abriam o portão para ir para a estrada.

Original English

Outside it had grown bright again and the evening sky was all red with the setting sun; and thrushes were singing in the garden as we opened the gate to go down on to the road.

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POLYNESIA

Português

O falante disse ao Doutor Dolittle que a casa dele era a mais interessante que já tinham visitado. Eles perguntaram se poderiam visitá-lo novamente no dia seguinte.

Original English

" I THINK your house is the most interesting house I was ever in," I said as we set off in the direction of the town. "May I come and see you again to-morrow?"

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle concordou, dizendo ao falante que eles poderiam visitar qualquer dia que quisessem. Ele prometeu mostrar-lhes o jardim e seu zoológico particular no dia seguinte.

Original English

"Certainly," said the Doctor. "Come any day you like. To-morrow I'll show you the garden and my private zoo."

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Português

O falante perguntou se o Doutor Dolittle tinha um zoológico.

Original English

"Oh, have you a zoo?" I asked.

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Português

O Doutor concordou. Ele explicou que os animais maiores eram grandes demais para sua casa, então ele os mantinha em um zoológico em seu jardim. Ele mencionou que o zoológico não era muito grande, mas era interessante.

Original English

"Yes," said he. "The larger animals are too big for the house, so I keep them in a zoo in the garden. It is not a very big collection but it is interesting in its way."

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Português

O narrador disse ao Doutor que deveria ser maravilhoso poder falar todas as línguas dos animais. Ele perguntou se ele achava que poderia aprender a fazer isso.

Original English

"It must be splendid," I said, "to be able to talk all the languages of the different animals. Do you think I could ever learn to do it?"

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Português

O Doutor respondeu que o narrador certamente poderia aprender com a prática. Ele o aconselhou a ser muito paciente e sugeriu que a Polinésia poderia ajudá-lo a começar, já que ela lhe dera suas primeiras lições.

Original English

"Oh surely," said the Doctor— "with practise. You have to be very patient, you know. You really ought to have Polynesia to start you. It was she who gave me my first lessons."

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Português

O narrador perguntou quem era Polinésia.

Original English

"Who is Polynesia?" I asked.

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Português

O Doutor explicou que Polinésia era um papagaio da África Ocidental. Ele disse tristemente que ela não estava mais com ele.

Original English

"Polynesia was a West African parrot I had. She isn't with me any more now," said the Doctor sadly.

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Português

Alguém perguntou se o pássaro estava morto.

Original English

"Why — is she dead?"

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Português

O Doutor explicou que o pássaro não estava morto, e ele esperava que ela ainda estivesse viva. Ele disse que quando chegaram na África, ela ficou muito feliz por estar de volta ao seu país natal e chorou de alegria. Ele decidiu não a tirar da terra ensolarada, mesmo que ela tivesse se oferecido para vir. Ele a deixou na África e sentiu muita falta dela. Ela chorou novamente quando ele partiu. Ele acreditou ter feito a coisa certa, pois ela era uma boa amiga e o inspirou a aprender línguas de animais e se tornar um médico de animais. Ele se perguntou se ela ainda estava feliz na África e se a veria novamente. Ele se lembrava dela como um pássaro engraçado, velho e sério chamado Polinésia, que era extraordinário.

Original English

"Oh no," said the Doctor. "She is still living, I hope. But when we reached Africa she seemed so glad to get back to her own country. She wept for joy. And when the time came for me to come back here I had not the heart to take her away from that sunny land — although, it is true, she did offer to come. I left her in Africa — Ah well! I have missed her terribly. She wept again when we left. But I think I did the right thing. She was one of the best friends I ever had. It was she who first gave me the idea of learning the animal languages and becoming an animal doctor. I often wonder if she remained happy in Africa, and whether I shall ever see her funny, old, solemn face again — Good old Polynesia! — A most extraordinary bird — Well, well!"

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Português

Naquele momento, eles ouviram alguém correndo atrás deles. Eles se viraram e viram Jip, o cachorro, correndo em direção a eles muito rápido. Jip parecia muito animado e começou a latir e fazer sons para o Doutor. O Doutor também ficou animado e começou a falar com o cachorro e fazer sinais. Finalmente, ele se virou para o narrador com uma expressão muito feliz.

Original English

Just at that moment we heard the noise of some one running behind us; and turning round we saw Jip the dog rushing down the road after us, as fast as his legs could bring him. He seemed very excited about something, and as soon as he came up to us, he started barking and whining to the Doctor in a peculiar way. Then the Doctor too seemed to get all worked up and began talking and making queer signs to the dog. At length he turned to me, his face shining with happiness.

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Português

O Doutor anunciou animadamente que Polinésia tinha voltado. Ele explicou que Jip lhe dissera que ela acabara de chegar em casa. Ele mencionou que fazia cinco anos desde que a vira pela última vez e se desculpou por um momento.

Original English

"Polynesia has come back!" he cried. "Imagine it. Jip says she has just arrived at the house. My! And it's five years since I saw her — Excuse me a minute."

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Português

O Doutor se virou como se fosse para casa, mas o papagaio, Polinésia, já estava voando em direção a eles. O Doutor bateu palmas de alegria, como uma criança recebendo um brinquedo novo. Um grupo de pardais nas cercas voou, tagarelando, muito surpresos ao ver um papagaio cinza e vermelho voando pela estrada na Inglaterra.

Original English

He turned as if to go back home. But the parrot, Polynesia, was already flying towards us. The Doctor clapped his hands like a child getting a new toy; while the swarm of sparrows in the roadway fluttered, gossiping, up on to the fences, highly scandalized to see a gray and scarlet parrot skimming down an English lane.

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Português

O pássaro pousou no ombro do Doutor e começou a falar muito em uma língua que ele não entendia. O Doutor ficou tão interessado que se esqueceu do narrador, do esquilo e do Jip. Por fim, o pássaro perguntou ao Doutor sobre o narrador.

Original English

On she came, straight on to the Doctor's shoulder, where she immediately began talking a steady stream in a language I could not understand. She seemed to have a terrible lot to say. And very soon the Doctor had forgotten all about me and my squirrel and Jip and everything else; till at length the bird clearly asked him something about me.

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Português

O Doutor pediu desculpas a Thomas Stubbins, explicando que estava muito interessado em ouvir sua velha amiga, o pássaro. Em seguida, apresentou o pássaro, Polinésia, a Thomas Stubbins e disse que eles deveriam ir ver o esquilo de Stubbins.

Original English

"Oh excuse me, Stubbins!" said the Doctor. "I was so interested listening to my old friend here. We must get on and see this squirrel of yours — Polynesia, this is Thomas Stubbins."

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Português

O papagaio, ainda no ombro do Doutor, acenou com a cabeça na direção do narrador. Para surpresa do narrador, o papagaio então falou claramente em inglês.

Original English

The parrot, on the Doctor's shoulder, nodded gravely towards me and then, to my great surprise, said quite plainly in English,

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Português

O papagaio cumprimentou Thomas Stubbins e disse que se lembrava da noite em que ele nasceu. Mencionou que era um inverno muito frio e que Stubbins tinha sido um bebê muito feio.

Original English

"How do you do? I remember the night you were born. It was a terribly cold winter. You were a very ugly baby."

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Português

O Doutor explicou ao papagaio que Stubbins estava ansioso para aprender línguas de animais. Ele disse que estava contando a Stubbins sobre o papagaio e as lições que ele lhe dera. Jip então correu para lhes dizer que o papagaio havia chegado.

Original English

"Stubbins is anxious to learn animal language," said the Doctor. "I was just telling him about you and the lessons you gave me when Jip ran up and told us you had arrived."

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Português

O papagaio explicou ao narrador que o Doutor Dolittle o havia ensinado a entender inglês. Ele disse que muitos papagaios conseguem falar como humanos, mas poucos entendem o que estão dizendo. Eles frequentemente falam porque acham que é inteligente ou porque querem conseguir comida, como biscoitos.

Original English

"Well," said the parrot, turning to me, "I may have started the Doctor learning but I never could have done even that, if he hadn't first taught me to understand what I was saying when I spoke English. You see, many parrots can talk like a person, but very few of them understand what they are saying. They just say it because — well, because they fancy it is smart or, because they know they will get crackers given them."

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Português

Nesse momento, eles estavam caminhando em direção à casa do narrador. O cachorro Jip corria na frente, e a papagaia Polinésia estava sentada no ombro do Doutor Dolittle. O papagaio falava muito, principalmente sobre a África, mas falava em inglês por educação ao narrador.

Original English

By this time we had turned and were going towards my home with Jip running in front and Polynesia still perched on the Doctor's shoulder. The bird chattered incessantly, mostly about Africa; but now she spoke in English, out of politeness to me.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle perguntou como o Príncipe Bumpo estava.

Original English

"How is Prince Bumpo getting on?" asked the Doctor.

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Português

Polinésia ficou satisfeita que o Doutor perguntou. Ela disse que quase tinha esquecido de mencionar que o Príncipe Bumpo estava agora na Inglaterra.

Original English

"Oh, I'm glad you asked me," said Polynesia. "I almost forgot to tell you. What do you think? — Bumpo is in England! "

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle ficou muito surpreso ao saber que o Príncipe Bumpo estava na Inglaterra. Ele se perguntou por que ele estava lá.

Original English

"In England! — You don't say!" cried the Doctor. "What on earth is he doing here?"

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Português

O rei, que era seu pai, o enviou para um lugar. Ele pensava que o lugar se chamava Bullford, e ele foi enviado para lá para estudar.

Original English

"His father, the king, sent him here to a place called — er — Bullford, I think it was — to study lessons."

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle não reconheceu o nome Bullford. Ele pensou que a pessoa poderia estar se referindo a Oxford.

Original English

"Bullford! — Bullford!" muttered the Doctor. "I never heard of the place — Oh, you mean Oxford."

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Português

Polinésia confirmou que o lugar era Oxford. Ela lembrou que Oxford era conhecida por seu gado e concordou que era o destino correto.

Original English

"Yes, that's the place — Oxford," said Polynesia "I knew it had cattle in it somewhere. Oxford — that's the place he's gone to."

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle expressou surpresa por Bumpo estar indo estudar em Oxford, achando isso bastante inesperado.

Original English

"Well, well," murmured the Doctor. "Fancy Bumpo studying at Oxford — Well, well!"

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Português

Houve uma grande comemoração em Jolliginki quando Bumpo partiu, mas ele estava com muito medo. Ele foi a primeira pessoa de seu país a viajar para o exterior e temia encontrar pessoas brancas que pudessem machucá-lo. Seu pai insistiu que ele fosse, explicando que era moda os filhos de reis negros estudarem em Oxford. Bumpo queria levar suas seis esposas, mas seu pai recusou. Bumpo saiu chorando, e todos no palácio também estavam tristes, criando uma despedida muito barulhenta e emocionante.

Original English

"There were great doings in Jolliginki when he left. He was scared to death to come. He was the first man from that country to go abroad. He thought he was going to be eaten by white cannibals or something. You know what those niggers are — that ignorant! Well! — But his father made him come. He said that all the black kings were sending their sons to Oxford now. It was the fashion, and he would have to go. Bumpo wanted to bring his six wives with him. But the king wouldn't let him do that either. Poor Bumpo went off in tears — and everybody in the palace was crying too. You never heard such a hullabaloo."

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Português

O Doutor perguntou se alguém tinha voltado para procurar a Bela Adormecida.

Original English

"Do you know if he ever went back in search of The Sleeping Beauty?" asked the Doctor.

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Português

Polinésia respondeu que ele tinha voltado no dia seguinte ao que o Doutor partiu. Ela acrescentou que foi bom ele ter feito isso, porque o rei descobriu que ele havia ajudado o Doutor a escapar e ficou muito irritado.

Original English

"Oh yes," said Polynesia— "the day after you left. And a good thing for him he did: the king got to know about his helping you to escape; and he was dreadfully wild about it."

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Português

O Doutor perguntou novamente se ele tinha encontrado a Bela Adormecida.

Original English

"And The Sleeping Beauty? — did he ever find her?"

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Português

Polinésia explicou que a pessoa trouxe de volta alguém que ele disse ser a Bela Adormecida. Ela achou que era uma mulher branca com cabelo ruivo e pés muito grandes. Bumpo ficou muito feliz com ela e se casou. Eles celebraram com um banquete de sete dias. Agora ela é sua esposa principal e é conhecida como Princesa Herdeira Bumpah.

Original English

"Well, he brought back something which he said was The Sleeping Beauty. Myself, I think it was an albino niggeress. She had red hair and the biggest feet you ever saw. But Bumpo was no end pleased with her and finally married her amid great rejoicings. The feastings lasted seven days. She became his chief wife and is now known out there as the Crown-Princess Bum pah — you accent the last syllable."

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Português

O Doutor então perguntou se Bumpo tinha permanecido branco.

Original English

"And tell me, did he remain white?"

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Português

O papagaio explicou que uma mudança durou apenas cerca de três meses. Depois disso, o rosto da pessoa voltou à sua cor normal. Isso foi bom porque a pessoa parecia muito evidente em seu maiô, com o rosto branco e o corpo preto.

Original English

"Only for about three months," said the parrot. "After that his face slowly returned to its natural color. It was just as well. He was so conspicuous in his bathing-suit the way he was, with his face white and the rest of him black."

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Português

O Doutor perguntou sobre Chee-Chee. Ele explicou que Chee-Chee era um macaco de estimação que ele tivera muitos anos antes. O Doutor tinha deixado Chee-Chee na África quando voltou para casa.

Original English

"And how is Chee-Chee getting on? — Chee-Chee," added the Doctor in explanation to me, "was a pet monkey I had years ago. I left him too in Africa when I came away."

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Português

Polinésia disse que Chee-Chee não estava completamente feliz. Ela o vira com frequência nos últimos anos, e ele sentia muita saudade do Doutor, da casa e do jardim. Polinésia sentia o mesmo quando estava na África. Embora a África fosse um lugar maravilhoso, depois de algumas semanas ficou chato para ela, e ela não conseguia se sentir estabelecida. Então, ela decidiu voltar e encontrar o Doutor. Ela contou seu plano a Chee-Chee, e ele concordou, sentindo o mesmo. A África era muito silenciosa após a vida que tiveram com o Doutor. Chee-Chee sentia falta das histórias dos livros de animais e das conversas ao lado do fogo da cozinha. Os animais na África eram gentis, mas pareciam menos interessantes do que antes. Chee-Chee também pensava assim. Quando Polinésia partiu, Chee-Chee ficou muito triste e chorou. Ele sentiu como se estivesse perdendo seu único amigo. Ele também disse que era injusto que Polinésia pudesse voar de volta facilmente, mas ele não tinha como segui-la. No entanto, Polinésia acreditava que Chee-Chee era inteligente e poderia encontrar um jeito de voltar um dia.

Original English

"Well," said Polynesia frowning,— "Chee-Chee is not entirely happy. I saw a good deal of him the last few years. He got dreadfully homesick for you and the house and the garden. It's funny, but I was just the same way myself. You remember how crazy I was to get back to the dear old land? And Africa is a wonderful country — I don't care what anybody says. Well, I thought I was going to have a perfectly grand time. But somehow — I don't know — after a few weeks it seemed to get tiresome. I just couldn't seem to settle down. Well, to make a long story short, one night I made up my mind that I'd come back here and find you. So I hunted up old Chee-Chee and told him about it. He said he didn't blame me a bit — felt exactly the same way himself. Africa was so deadly quiet after the life we had led with you. He missed the stories you used to tell us out of your animal books — and the chats we used to have sitting round the kitchen-fire on winter nights. The animals out there were very nice to us and all that. But somehow the dear kind creatures seemed a bit stupid. Chee-Chee said he had noticed it too. But I suppose it wasn't they who had changed; it was we who were different. When I left, poor old Chee-Chee broke down and cried. He said he felt as though his only friend were leaving him — though, as you know, he has simply millions of relatives there. He said it didn't seem fair that I should have wings to fly over here any time I liked, and him with no way to follow me. But mark my words, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he found a way to come — some day. He's a smart lad, is Chee-Chee."

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Português

Eles chegaram na casa do Doutor. A loja do pai dele estava fechada, e as persianas estavam abaixadas. A mãe dele estava parada na porta, olhando para a rua.

Original English

At this point we arrived at my home. My father's shop was closed and the shutters were up; but my mother was standing at the door looking down the street.

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Português

O Doutor cumprimentou a Sra. Stubbins e explicou que era culpa dele o filho dela estar atrasado. Ele havia convidado o menino para ficar para o jantar enquanto suas roupas molhadas secavam. Tanto o Doutor quanto o menino foram pegos por uma tempestade e ficaram encharcados. O Doutor tinha pedido ao menino que viesse para sua casa se abrigar.

Original English

"Good evening, Mrs. Stubbins," said the Doctor. "It is my fault your son is so late. I made him stay to supper while his clothes were drying. He was soaked to the skin; and so was I. We ran into one another in the storm and I insisted on his coming into my house for shelter."

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Português

Minha mãe disse que havia começado a se preocupar com ele. Ela agradeceu ao Doutor por cuidar tão bem dele e trazê-lo de volta para casa.

Original English

"I was beginning to get worried about him," said my mother. "I am thankful to you, Sir, for looking after him so well and bringing him home."

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Português

O Doutor respondeu que não foi nenhum problema. Ele mencionou que eles tiveram uma conversa muito interessante.

Original English

"Don't mention it — don't mention it," said the Doctor. "We have had a very interesting chat."

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Português

Minha mãe olhou para o papagaio cinza sentado no ombro do Doutor. Ela perguntou quem ele era.

Original English

"Who might it be that I have the honor of addressing?" asked my mother staring at the gray parrot perched on the Doctor's shoulder.

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Português

O Doutor se apresentou como John Dolittle. Ele achou que o marido dela se lembraria dele porque havia feito umas botas excelentes para ele cerca de quatro anos atrás, as quais ele considerava muito boas.

Original English

"Oh, I'm John Dolittle. I dare say your husband will remember me. He made me some very excellent boots about four years ago. They really are splendid," added the Doctor, gazing down at his feet with great satisfaction.

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Português

Eu disse à minha mãe que o Doutor tinha vindo para ajudar meu esquilo. Expliquei que ele era muito conhecedor sobre animais.

Original English

"The Doctor has come to cure my squirrel, Mother," said I. "He knows all about animals."

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Português

O Doutor disse a Stubbins que nem tudo era sobre eles.

Original English

"Oh, no," said the Doctor, "not all, Stubbins, not all about them by any means."

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Português

A mãe do narrador agradeceu ao Doutor por ter viajado uma longa distância para ajudar com o animal de estimação. Ela mencionou que Tom frequentemente trazia para casa animais incomuns dos bosques e campos.

Original English

"It is very kind of you to come so far to look after his pet," said my mother. "Tom is always bringing home strange creatures from the woods and the fields."

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Português

O Doutor perguntou se Tom trazia animais para casa e se perguntou se ele poderia se tornar um naturalista quando crescesse.

Original English

"Is he?" said the Doctor. "Perhaps he will grow up to be a naturalist some day. Who knows?"

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Português

A mãe do narrador convidou o Doutor para entrar, explicando que a casa estava um pouco bagunçada porque a limpeza de primavera não havia terminado. Ela acrescentou que uma lareira acesa estava queimando na sala de estar.

Original English

"Won't you come in?" asked my mother. "The place is a little untidy because I haven't finished the spring cleaning yet. But there's a nice fire burning in the parlor."

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Português

O Doutor agradeceu a ela e disse que ela tinha uma casa muito agradável.

Original English

"Thank you!" said the Doctor. "What a charming home you have!"

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Português

Depois de limpar cuidadosamente suas botas muito grandes no tapete, o homem importante entrou na casa.

Original English

And after wiping his enormous boots very, very carefully on the mat, the great man passed into the house.

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THE WOUNDED SQUIRREL

Português

Lá dentro, encontramos meu pai. Ele estava praticando sua flauta perto do fogo, algo que ele sempre fazia todas as noites depois de terminar seu trabalho.

Original English

I NSIDE WE FOUND my father busy practising on the flute beside the fire. This he always did, every evening, after his work was over.

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Português

O Doutor imediatamente começou a falar com meu pai sobre diferentes instrumentos de sopro, como flautas, flautins e fagotes. Logo depois, meu pai falou.

Original English

The Doctor immediately began talking to him about flutes and piccolos and bassoons; and presently my father said,

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Português

Meu pai perguntou ao Doutor se ele mesmo tocava flauta e o convidou para tocar uma música para eles.

Original English

"Perhaps you perform upon the flute yourself, Sir. Won't you play us a tune?"

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Português

O Doutor respondeu que não tocava o instrumento há muito tempo, mas que gostaria de tentar e pediu permissão para fazê-lo.

Original English

"Well," said the Doctor, "it is a long time since I touched the instrument. But I would like to try. May I?"

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Português

O Doutor pegou a flauta do pai do narrador e tocou por muito tempo. A música era maravilhosa. A mãe e o pai do narrador sentaram-se muito quietos, olhando para o teto como se estivessem na igreja. Até o narrador, que normalmente não se importava muito com música, sentiu-se triste e um pouco assustado. Ele desejou ter sido uma pessoa melhor.

Original English

Then the Doctor took the flute from my father and played and played and played. It was wonderful. My mother and father sat as still as statues, staring up at the ceiling as though they were in church; and even I, who didn't bother much about music except on the mouth-organ — even I felt all sad and cold and creepy and wished I had been a better boy.

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Português

Quando o Doutor finalmente parou de tocar, a mãe do narrador disse que achava a música muito bonita.

Original English

"Oh I think that was just beautiful!" sighed my mother when at length the Doctor stopped.

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Português

O pai do narrador disse ao Doutor que ele era um grande músico. Em seguida, perguntou se o Doutor poderia tocar outra coisa para eles.

Original English

"You are a great musician, Sir," said my father, "a very great musician. Won't you please play us something else?"

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Português

O Doutor concordou em tocar novamente, mas então ele lembrou-se de repente que havia esquecido do esquilo.

Original English

"Why certainly," said the Doctor— "Oh, but look here, I've forgotten all about the squirrel."

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Português

O narrador disse ao Doutor que mostraria o esquilo a ele. Ele explicou que o esquilo estava lá em cima, no seu quarto.

Original English

"I'll show him to you," I said. "He is upstairs in my room."

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Português

O narrador levou o Doutor Dolittle ao seu quarto no topo da casa. Ele mostrou ao doutor um esquilo que estava em uma caixa cheia de palha.

Original English

So I led the Doctor to my bedroom at the top of the house and showed him the squirrel in the packing-case filled with straw.

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Português

O esquilo geralmente tinha medo do narrador, mas sentou-se e começou a chiar quando o Doutor entrou no quarto. O Doutor chiou de volta para o esquilo. Quando o Doutor levantou o esquilo para examinar sua perna, o animal parecia feliz em vez de assustado.

Original English

The animal, who had always seemed very much afraid of me — though I had tried hard to make him feel at home, sat up at once when the Doctor came into the room and started to chatter. The Doctor chattered back in the same way and the squirrel when he was lifted up to have his leg examined, appeared to be rather pleased than frightened.

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Português

O narrador segurou uma vela enquanto o Doutor Dolittle consertava a perna do esquilo. O doutor usou palitos de fósforo e seu canivete para fazer pequenos suportes, que ele chamava de "talas", para a perna.

Original English

I held a candle while the Doctor tied the leg up in what he called "splints," which he made out of match-sticks with his pen-knife.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle disse ao narrador que a perna do esquilo sararia rapidamente. Ele aconselhou manter o esquilo ao ar livre por duas semanas e cobri-lo com folhas se as noites ficassem frias. O doutor explicou que o esquilo se sentia solitário e sentia falta de sua família. Ele prometeu enviar outro esquilo do seu jardim para obter notícias da família e trazê-las de volta. O doutor enfatizou que o esquilo devia ser mantido alegre porque os esquilos são ativos e têm dificuldade em ficar parados.

Original English

"I think you will find that his leg will get better now in a very short time," said the Doctor closing up his bag. "Don't let him run about for at least two weeks yet, but keep him in the open air and cover him up with dry leaves if the nights get cool. He tells me he is rather lonely here, all by himself, and is wondering how his wife and children are getting on. I have assured him you are a man to be trusted; and I will send a squirrel who lives in my garden to find out how his family are and to bring him news of them. He must be kept cheerful at all costs. Squirrels are naturally a very cheerful, active race. It is very hard for them to lie still doing nothing. But you needn't worry about him. He will be all right."

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Português

Depois, eles voltaram para a sala de estar. A mãe e o pai do narrador tocaram flauta para o Doutor Dolittle até depois das dez horas da noite.

Original English

Then we went back again to the parlor and my mother and father kept him playing the flute till after ten o'clock.

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Português

Os pais do narrador gostaram muito do Doutor Dolittle quando o conheceram. Eles ficaram felizes que ele veio tocar música para eles, mesmo não sendo ricos. Naquela época, eles não sabiam que ele se tornaria uma pessoa famosa. Agora, muitas pessoas conhecem o Doutor Dolittle. Se você visitar a antiga casa dele em Puddleby, poderá ver uma pedra na parede. Diz que John Dolittle, um famoso naturalista, tocou flauta naquela casa em 1839.

Original English

Although my parents both liked the Doctor tremendously from the first moment that they saw him, and were very proud to have him come and play to us (for we were really terribly poor) they did not realize then what a truly great man he was one day to become. Of course now, when almost everybody in the whole world has heard about Doctor Dolittle and his books, if you were to go to that little house in Puddleby where my father had his cobbler's shop you would see, set in the wall over the old-fashioned door, a stone with writing on it which says: "JOHN DOLITTLE, THE FAMOUS NATURALIST, PLAYED THE FLUTE IN THIS HOUSE IN THE YEAR 1839."

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Português

O escritor se lembra de uma noite de muito tempo atrás. Ele consegue imaginar a sala claramente: um homem gentil com rosto redondo tocava flauta perto da lareira. Sua mãe e seu pai estavam sentados em cada lado, ouvindo com os olhos fechados. O escritor e seu cachorro, Jip, sentaram no tapete olhando para o fogo. Polynesia, o papagaio, estava sentada na prateleira, balançando a cabeça ao ritmo da música. Ele se lembra de tudo como se estivesse acontecendo agora.

Original English

I often look back upon that night long, long ago. And if I close my eyes and think hard I can see that parlor just as it was then: a funny little man in coat-tails, with a round kind face, playing away on the flute in front of the fire; my mother on one side of him and my father on the other, holding their breath and listening with their eyes shut; myself, with Jip, squatting on the carpet at his feet, staring into the coals; and Polynesia perched on the mantlepiece beside his shabby high hat, gravely swinging her head from side to side in time to the music. I see it all, just as though it were before me now.

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Português

Depois que se despediram do Doutor, a família voltou para a sala e conversou sobre ele por um longo tempo. O escritor foi dormir muito tarde, mais tarde do que nunca. Ele sonhou com o Doutor e um grupo de animais espertos tocando música a noite toda.

Original English

And then I remember how, after we had seen the Doctor out at the front door, we all came back into the parlor and talked about him till it was still later; and even after I did go to bed (I had never stayed up so late in my life before) I dreamed about him and a band of strange clever animals that played flutes and fiddles and drums the whole night through.

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SHELLFISH TALK

Português

Na manhã seguinte, o escritor acordou muito cedo, mesmo tendo ido dormir tarde. Os primeiros pássaros estavam começando a cantar do lado de fora da janela quando ele saiu da cama e vestiu suas roupas rapidamente.

Original English

THE NEXT MORNING, although I had gone to bed so late the night before, I was up frightfully early. The first sparrows were just beginning to chirp sleepily on the slates outside my attic window when I jumped out of bed and scrambled into my clothes.

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Português

Ele estava muito ansioso para voltar à casa com o grande jardim para ver o Doutor e seus animais especiais. Pela primeira vez, ele se esqueceu de tomar café da manhã. Ele desceu as escadas silenciosamente para não acordar seus pais. Depois, abriu a porta da frente e saiu para a rua vazia e silenciosa.

Original English

I could hardly wait to get back to the little house with the big garden — to see the Doctor and his private zoo. For the first time in my life I forgot all about breakfast; and creeping down the stairs on tip-toe, so as not to wake my mother and father, I opened the front door and popped out into the empty, silent street.

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Português

Quando cheguei ao portão do Doutor, de repente senti que talvez fosse cedo demais para visitar alguém. Fiquei imaginando se o Doutor já estava acordado. Olhei para o jardim, mas ninguém parecia estar ali. Então, abri o portão silenciosamente e entrei.

Original English

When I got to the Doctor's gate I suddenly thought that perhaps it was too early to call on any one: and I began to wonder if the Doctor would be up yet. I looked into the garden. No one seemed to be about. So I opened the gate quietly and went inside.

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Português

Ao virar à esquerda para descer um caminho entre algumas cercas-vivas, ouvi uma voz muito perto de mim.

Original English

As I turned to the left to go down a path between some hedges, I heard a voice quite close to me say,

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Português

A voz me cumprimentou e comentou que eu estava muito cedo.

Original English

"Good morning. How early you are!"

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Português

Eu me virei e vi o papagaio cinza, Polinésia, sentado no topo de uma cerca de alfena.

Original English

I turned around, and there, sitting on the top of a privet hedge, was the gray parrot, Polynesia.

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Português

Eu respondi, dando bom dia e admitindo que provavelmente estava bem cedo. Perguntei se o Doutor ainda estava na cama.

Original English

"Good morning," I said. "I suppose I am rather early. Is the Doctor still in bed?"

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Português

Polinésia disse ao narrador que o Doutor Dolittle já estava acordado e havia acordado há um tempo. Ela disse que ele provavelmente estava na cozinha preparando o café da manhã ou em seu escritório. Ela mencionou que a porta da frente estava aberta e convidou o narrador a entrar. Polinésia também comentou sobre o mau tempo e a névoa na Inglaterra, dizendo que estava frio e não ensolarado como na África. Então ela disse ao narrador para ir ver o Doutor.

Original English

"Oh no," said Polynesia. "He has been up an hour and a half. You'll find him in the house somewhere. The front door is open. Just push it and go in. He is sure to be in the kitchen cooking breakfast — or working in his study. Walk right in. I am waiting to see the sun rise. But upon my word I believe it's forgotten to rise. It is an awful climate, this. Now if we were in Africa the world would be blazing with sunlight at this hour of the morning. Just see that mist rolling over those cabbages. It is enough to give you rheumatism to look at it. Beastly climate — Beastly! Really I don't know why anything but frogs ever stay in England — Well, don't let me keep you. Run along and see the Doctor."

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Português

O narrador agradeceu a Polinésia e disse que iria encontrar o Doutor Dolittle.

Original English

"Thank you," I said. "I'll go and look for him."

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Português

Quando o narrador abriu a porta da frente, sentiu cheiro de bacon cozinhando e foi para a cozinha. Ele viu uma grande panela fervendo e bacon e ovos em um prato perto do fogo. Ele achou que o bacon estava secando, então afastou o prato do calor. Então continuou pela casa para procurar o Doutor.

Original English

When I opened the front door I could smell bacon frying, so I made my way to the kitchen. There I discovered a large kettle boiling away over the fire and some bacon and eggs in a dish upon the hearth. It seemed to me that the bacon was getting all dried up with the heat. So I pulled the dish a little further away from the fire and went on through the house looking for the Doctor.

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Português

O narrador finalmente encontrou o Doutor Dolittle em uma sala que mais tarde foi chamada de Escritório. Era uma sala muito interessante, cheia de telescópios, microscópios e outros itens estranhos que o narrador não entendia, mas queria entender. As paredes tinham fotos de animais, peixes e plantas, além de coleções de ovos de pássaros e conchas em caixas de vidro.

Original English

I found him at last in the Study. I did not know then that it was called the Study. It was certainly a very interesting room, with telescopes and microscopes and all sorts of other strange things which I did not understand about but wished I did. Hanging on the walls were pictures of animals and fishes and strange plants and collections of birds' eggs and sea-shells in glass cases.

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Português

O Doutor estava em pé em uma mesa, de roupão. Ele tinha uma caixa de vidro cheia de água na frente dele. Ele estava segurando uma orelha na água e cobrindo a outra com a mão. Quando o narrador entrou, o Doutor se levantou.

Original English

The Doctor was standing at the main table in his dressing-gown. At first I thought he was washing his face. He had a square glass box before him full of water. He was holding one ear under the water while he covered the other with his left hand. As I came in he stood up.

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Português

O Doutor cumprimentou Stubbins e disse que parecia um dia agradável. Ele mencionou que estava ouvindo o Wiff-Waff, mas achou muito decepcionante.

Original English

"Good morning, Stubbins," said he. "Going to be a nice day, don't you think? I've just been listening to the Wiff-Waff. But he is very disappointing — very."

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Português

Stubbins perguntou ao Doutor por que ele achava o Wiff-Waff decepcionante. Ele queria saber se o Wiff-Waff não tinha nenhuma linguagem.

Original English

"Why?" I said. "Didn't you find that he has any language at all?"

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Português

O Doutor explicou que o Wiff-Waff tinha uma linguagem, mas era muito simples, com apenas algumas palavras como 'sim', 'não', 'quente' e 'frio'. Ele achou isso decepcionante porque o Wiff-Waff pertencia a dois tipos diferentes de peixes. Ele esperava que fosse muito útil.

Original English

"Oh yes," said the Doctor, "he has a language. But it is such a poor language — only a few words, like 'yes' and 'no'— 'hot' and 'cold.' That's all he can say. It's very disappointing. You see he really belongs to two different families of fishes. I thought he was going to be tremendously helpful — Well, well!"

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Português

Stubbins pensou que, se o Wiff-Waff só conhecia duas ou três palavras, provavelmente não tinha muita inteligência.

Original English

"I suppose," said I, "that means he hasn't very much sense — if his language is only two or three words?"

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Português

O Doutor concordou e sugeriu que a linguagem limitada do Wiff-Waff poderia ser por causa de seu estilo de vida. Ele explicou que os Wiff-Waffs são agora muito raros e preferem viver sozinhos no oceano profundo. Por serem solitários, ele supôs que não precisam se comunicar muito.

Original English

"Yes, I suppose it does. Possibly it is the kind of life he leads. You see, they are very rare now, these Wiff-Waffs — very rare and very solitary. They swim around in the deepest parts of the ocean entirely by themselves — always alone. So I presume they really don't need to talk much."

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Português

Sugeri que talvez um marisco maior pudesse falar mais. Também perguntei se o marisco era muito pequeno.

Original English

"Perhaps some kind of a bigger shellfish would talk more," I said. "After all, he is very small, isn't he?"

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Português

O Doutor concordou que alguns mariscos são bons conversadores. No entanto, explicou que os maiores são difíceis de encontrar porque vivem no fundo do mar e se movem lentamente pelo assoalho oceânico, por isso raramente são pegos em redes. Ele desejou encontrar uma maneira de ir ao fundo do mar para aprender mais. Então, perguntou se eu já havia tomado café da manhã.

Original English

"Yes," said the Doctor, "that's true. Oh I have no doubt that there are shellfish who are good talkers — not the least doubt. But the big shellfish — the biggest of them, are so hard to catch. They are only to be found in the deep parts of the sea; and as they don't swim very much, but just crawl along the floor of the ocean most of the time, they are very seldom taken in nets. I do wish I could find some way of going down to the bottom of the sea. I could learn a lot if I could only do that. But we are forgetting all about breakfast — Have you had breakfast yet, Stubbins?"

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Português

Eu disse ao Doutor que tinha me esquecido do café da manhã. Ele imediatamente me levou até a cozinha.

Original English

I told the Doctor that I had forgotten all about it and he at once led the way into the kitchen.

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Português

Enquanto colocava água quente no bule, o Doutor mencionou que se alguém pudesse viajar até o fundo do mar e ficar lá por um tempo, descobriria coisas incríveis que as pessoas nunca imaginaram.

Original English

"Yes," he said, as he poured the hot water from the kettle into the tea-pot, "if a man could only manage to get right down to the bottom of the sea, and live there a while, he would discover some wonderful things — things that people have never dreamed of."

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Português

Perguntei ao Doutor se pessoas como mergulhadores realmente vão até o fundo do mar.

Original English

"But men do go down, don't they?" I asked— "divers and people like that?"

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Português

O Doutor explicou que mergulhadores podem descer no mar, e ele próprio havia usado um traje de mergulho. No entanto, ele observou que os mergulhadores só vão para partes rasas do mar. Ele expressou o desejo de explorar as partes mais profundas do oceano, com milhas de profundidade, e acreditava que poderia conseguir isso um dia. Em seguida, ofereceu outra xícara de chá à pessoa.

Original English

"Oh yes, to be sure," said the Doctor. "Divers go down. I've been down myself in a diving-suit, for that matter. But my! — they only go where the sea is shallow. Divers can't go down where it is really deep. What I would like to do is to go down to the great depths — where it is miles deep — Well, well, I dare say I shall manage it some day. Let me give you another cup of tea."

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ARE YOU A GOOD NOTICER?

Português

Naquele momento, uma arara chamada Polinésia entrou na sala e falou com o Doutor em linguagem de pássaros. Embora o narrador não tenha entendido o que ela disse, o Doutor imediatamente parou de comer e saiu da sala.

Original English

J UST AT THAT moment Polynesia came into the room and said something to the Doctor in bird language. Of course I did not understand what it was. But the Doctor at once put down his knife and fork and left the room.

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Português

Depois que o Doutor saiu, a arara explicou que era uma pena porque, assim que ele voltava para casa, animais doentes de toda a região vinham até ele pedir ajuda. Ela mencionou uma lebre esperando do lado de fora com um filhote que poderia estar tendo convulsões por ter comido uma planta venenosa. A arara reclamou que os animais eram desconsiderados, chamando o Doutor durante as refeições ou acordando-o à noite. Ela sentia que o Doutor nunca tinha paz porque ele era muito bondoso e sempre concordava em ver animais com problemas urgentes imediatamente.

Original English

"You know it is an awful shame," said the parrot as soon as the Doctor had closed the door. "Directly he comes back home, all the animals over the whole countryside get to hear of it and every sick cat and mangy rabbit for miles around comes to see him and ask his advice. Now there's a big fat hare outside at the back door with a squawking baby. Can she see the Doctor, please! — Thinks it's going to have convulsions. Stupid little thing's been eating Deadly Nightshade again, I suppose. The animals are so inconsiderate at times — especially the mothers. They come round and call the Doctor away from his meals and wake him out of his bed at all hours of the night. I don't know how he stands it — really I don't. Why, the poor man never gets any peace at all! I've told him time and again to have special hours for the animals to come. But he is so frightfully kind and considerate. He never refuses to see them if there is anything really wrong with them. He says the urgent cases must be seen at once."

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Português

O narrador perguntou à arara por que alguns animais não iam consultar outros médicos.

Original English

"Why don't some of the animals go and see the other doctors?" I asked.

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Português

A arara respondeu, surpresa, que não havia outros médicos de animais de verdade. Ela disse que, embora existissem veterinários, eles não eram úteis porque não entendiam a linguagem dos animais. Ela imaginou como seria difícil consultar um médico que não pudesse entendê-lo ou explicar as coisas em sua própria língua. Em seguida, pediu a alguém que mantivesse a comida do Doutor aquecida para ele.

Original English

"Oh Good Gracious!" exclaimed the parrot, tossing her head scornfully. "Why, there aren't any other animal-doctors — not real doctors. Oh of course there are those vet persons, to be sure. But, bless you, they're no good. You see, they can't understand the animals' language; so how can you expect them to be any use? Imagine yourself, or your father, going to see a doctor who could not understand a word you say — nor even tell you in your own language what you must do to get well! Poof! — those vets! They're that stupid, you've no idea! — Put the Doctor's bacon down by the fire, will you? — to keep hot till he comes back."

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Português

O menino perguntou a Polinésia se ele seria capaz de aprender a linguagem dos animais. Ele colocou o prato na lareira enquanto perguntava.

Original English

"Do you think I would ever be able to learn the language of the animals?" I asked, laying the plate upon the hearth.

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Português

Polinésia respondeu que dependia de suas habilidades. Ela perguntou a ele se ele era inteligente no aprendizado.

Original English

"Well, it all depends," said Polynesia. "Are you clever at lessons?"

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Português

O menino respondeu que não sabia, sentindo-se um pouco envergonhado. Ele explicou que nunca frequentou a escola porque seu pai era muito pobre para mandá-lo.

Original English

"I don't know," I answered, feeling rather ashamed. "You see, I've never been to school. My father is too poor to send me."

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Português

O papagaio comentou que ele provavelmente não tinha perdido muito da escola, baseado em suas observações de meninos da escola. Ela então perguntou se ele era um bom observador, ou seja, se ele notava as coisas bem. Ela deu um exemplo: se ele visse dois estorninhos em uma macieira e olhasse para eles apenas uma vez, conseguiria identificá-los novamente no dia seguinte?

Original English

"Well," said the parrot, "I don't suppose you have really missed much — to judge from what I have seen of school-boys. But listen: are you a good noticer? — Do you notice things well? I mean, for instance, supposing you saw two cock-starlings on an apple-tree, and you only took one good look at them — would you be able to tell one from the other if you saw them again the next day?"

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Português

O menino respondeu que não sabia, pois nunca havia tentado observar as coisas dessa maneira.

Original English

"I don't know," I said. "I've never tried."

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Português

Polinésia explicou que para aprender a linguagem dos animais, você precisa ser um bom observador. Isso significa perceber pequenos detalhes sobre como os animais se movem, como o jeito de andar, os movimentos da cabeça, o bater das asas, o faro e o balanço do rabo. Ela disse que muitos animais não falam com a língua. Em vez disso, usam a respiração, o rabo ou as patas. Isso porque, há muito tempo, eles tinham medo de ruídos altos de animais perigosos. Os pássaros não se preocupavam tanto porque podiam voar para longe. Polinésia enfatizou que ser um bom observador é muito importante para aprender a linguagem dos animais.

Original English

"Well that," said Polynesia, brushing some crumbs off the corner of the table with her left foot— "that is what you call powers of observation — noticing the small things about birds and animals: the way they walk and move their heads and flip their wings; the way they sniff the air and twitch their whiskers and wiggle their tails. You have to notice all those little things if you want to learn animal language. For you see, lots of the animals hardly talk at all with their tongues; they use their breath or their tails or their feet instead. That is because many of them, in the olden days when lions and tigers were more plentiful, were afraid to make a noise for fear the savage creatures heard them. Birds, of course, didn't care; for they always had wings to fly away with. But that is the first thing to remember: being a good noticer is terribly important in learning animal language."

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Português

O narrador disse que aprender a linguagem dos animais parecia bastante difícil.

Original English

"It sounds pretty hard," I said.

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Português

Polinésia disse ao narrador que ele precisaria ser muito paciente e que leva muito tempo para aprender. Ela se ofereceu para dar algumas aulas se ele visitasse com frequência. Ela explicou que aprender a linguagem dos animais poderia ajudar o Doutor Dolittle com tarefas mais fáceis, como dar remédios. Polinésia achou que era uma boa ideia o narrador ajudar o Doutor, especialmente se ele estivesse interessado em animais, para que o Doutor pudesse descansar um pouco.

Original English

"You'll have to be very patient," said Polynesia. "It takes a long time to say even a few words properly. But if you come here often I'll give you a few lessons myself. And once you get started you'll be surprised how fast you get on. It would indeed be a good thing if you could learn. Because then you could do some of the work for the Doctor — I mean the easier work, like bandaging and giving pills. Yes, yes, that's a good idea of mine. 'Twould be a great thing if the poor man could get some help — and some rest. It is a scandal the way he works. I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to help him a great deal — That is, if you are really interested in animals."

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Português

Polinésia repetiu que ser um bom observador é muito importante.

Original English

"'Being a good noticer is terribly important'"

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Português

O narrador disse animadamente que adoraria aprender e perguntou se o Doutor Dolittle permitiria que ele fizesse isso.

Original English

"Oh, I'd love that!" I cried. "Do you think the Doctor would let me?"

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Português

Polinésia concordou. Ela explicou que o Doutor o ensinaria sobre medicina. Ela então disse a ele para ficar quieto porque ouviu o Doutor se aproximando e pediu que ele devolvesse rapidamente o bacon para a mesa.

Original English

"Certainly," said Polynesia— "as soon as you have learned something about doctoring. I'll speak of it to him myself — Sh! I hear him coming. Quick — bring his bacon back on to the table."

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THE GARDEN OF DREAMS

Português

Após o café da manhã, o Doutor mostrou ao narrador o jardim. O narrador achou o jardim muito interessante e muito maior do que pensava inicialmente. Parecia não ter fim, com novas partes para descobrir a cada esquina ou atrás de cada cerca viva.

Original English

WHEN BREAKFAST WAS over the Doctor took me out to show me the garden. Well, if the house had been interesting, the garden was a hundred times more so. Of all the gardens I have ever seen that was the most delightful, the most fascinating. At first you did not realize how big it was. You never seemed to come to the end of it. When at last you were quite sure that you had seen it all, you would peer over a hedge, or turn a corner, or look up some steps, and there was a whole new part you never expected to find.

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