美国语文第三册 第66期:知足的男孩(2)

 　　Do you want nothing else? 你不想要点别的东西吗？

　　I have hardly time to play with what I have. 我几乎没有时间玩我拥有的东西。

　　I have to drive the cows, and to run on errands¹, and to ride the horses to the fields, and that is as good as play. 我必须赶牛、跑腿、把马骑到田野里放养，这些事情和玩一样有趣。

　　You could get apples and cakes, if you had money, you know. 你知道，如果你有钱，可以买到苹果和蛋糕。

　　I can have apples at home. 我家里就有苹果。

　　As for cake, I do not want that. 至于说蛋糕，我不想要。

　　My mother makes me a pie now and then, which is as good. 我妈妈时不时会为我做馅饼，那也一样好吃。

　　Would you not like a knife to cut sticks? 你想不想要一把刀用来削木棍？

　　I have one. Here it is. 我有一把。就在这儿。

　　Brother Tom gave it to me. 汤姆哥哥给我的。

　　Your shoes are full of holes. Don't you want a new pair? 你的鞋子全是洞，难道你不想要一双新的吗？

　　I have a better pair for Sundays. 我有一双好一点的鞋子，星期天才穿的。

　　But these let in water. 可是你现在穿的这双会进水的。

　　I do not mind that, sir. 我不介意，先生。

　　Your hat is all torn, too. 你的帽子也破了。

　　I have a better one at home. 我家里有一顶更好的。

　　What do you do when it rains? 下雨的时候你怎么办呢？

　　If it rains very hard when I am in the field, I get under a tree for shelter. 我在地里干活的时候，要是雨下得很大，我就到树底下避一避。

　　What do you do, if you are hungry before it is time to go home? 如果你饿了，可是还没到时间回家，你怎么办？

　　I sometimes eat a raw turnip². 我有时候会吃一个生萝卜。

　　But if there is none? 要是没有生萝卜呢？

　　Then I do as well as I can without. 那没有东西吃我也会一样好好地干活。

　　I work on, and never think of it. 我会继续干活，不去想它。

　　Why, my little fellow, I am glad to see that you are so contented³. 啊，我的小家伙，我很高兴看到你如此知足常乐。

　　Were you ever at school? 你有没有上过学？

　　No, sir. But father means to send me next winter. 没有，先生。不过父亲有意明年冬天送我去念书。

　　You will want books then. 到那时你会需要书本的。

　　Yes, sir; each boy has a Spelling Book, a Reader, and a Testament⁴. 是的，先生。每个男孩都会有拼写课本、阅读课本和《圣经》。

　　Then I will give them to you. 那么到时我会给你这些东西。

　　Tell your father so, and that it is because you are an obliging, contented little boy. 把我的话转告你的父亲，并且告诉他，这是因为你是个乐于助人、知足常乐的小男孩。

　　I will, sir. Thank you. 我会的，先生。谢谢！

　　Good by, Peter. 再见，彼得。

　　Good morning, sir. 愿您有个愉快的早上，先生。

1 errands   

n.errand的复数；差使( errand的名词复数 )；差事

参考例句：

• He often runs errands for his grandmother. 他经常给他的祖母跑腿儿。
• I have a few errands to do in the town. 我在城里有些差事要办。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 turnip   

n.萝卜，芜菁

参考例句：

• The turnip provides nutrition for you.芜菁为你提供营养。
• A turnip is a root vegetable.芜菁是根茎类植物。

3 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

4 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。