美国语文第三册 第75期:小块面包

 　　Once when there was a famine, a rich baker¹ sent for twenty of the poorest children in the town, and said to them, "In this basket there is a loaf for each of you." 从前，发生了一场饥荒。有一位富有的面包师让人叫来了城里最穷苦的20个小孩，对他们说：“在这个篮子里，你们每个人都可以拿一条面包。”

　　Take it, and come back to me every day at this hour till God sends us better times. 拿去吧，以后每天这个时候回到我这里来，直到上帝赐给我们好转的时势为止。

　　The hungry children gathered eagerly about the basket, and quarreled for the bread, because each wished to have the largest loaf. 饥饿的孩子们急忙围拢在篮子周围，他们为了面包互相争吵，因为每个人都希望拿到最大的那条面包。

　　At last they went away without even thanking the good gentleman. 最终，他们连“谢谢”也没对那位善良的先生说一句就走了。

　　But Gretchen, a poorly-dressed little girl, did not quarrel or struggle with the rest, but remained standing² modestly in the distance. 然而，格雷琴，一个衣衫褴褛的小姑娘，并没有和其他人争抢，而是一直谦卑地站在远处。

　　When the ill-behaved girls had left, she took the smallest loaf, which alone was left in the basket, kissed the gentleman's hand, and went home. 当那些举止失礼的女孩们离去之后，她拿出篮子里仅剩的最小的那条面包，亲吻面包师先生的手，然后回家了。

　　The next day the children were as ill-behaved as before, and poor, timid³ Gretchen received a loaf scarcely half the size of the one she got the first day. 第二天，那些孩子们和第一天一样没礼貌。而穷苦、羞怯的格雷琴得到了更小的面包，几乎只有前一天那条面包一半大。

　　When she came home, and her mother cut the loaf open, many new, shining pieces of silver fell out of it. 当她回到家，妈妈把面包条切开的时候，许多崭新的、闪闪发亮的银币掉了出来。

　　Her mother was very much alarmed, and said, "Take the money back to the good gentleman at once, for it must have got into the dough⁴ by accident." 她的妈妈吓呆了，说：“马上把这些钱拿回去还给那位仁慈的先生，这些钱肯定是意外掉进面团里的。”

　　Be quick, Gretchen! Be quick! 赶快去，格雷琴，赶快！

　　But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother's message, he said, "No, no, my child, it was no mistake." 然而，当小姑娘把妈妈说的话告诉那位有钱人的时候，先生说：“不，不，我的孩子，那没弄错。”

　　I had the silver pieces put into the smallest loaf to reward you. 我让人把这些银币放进最小的面包条里，是为了奖励你。

　　Always be as contented⁵, peaceable, and grateful as you now are. 希望你永远像现在这样，保持知足、平和、感恩的心。

　　Go home now, and tell your mother that the money is your own. 现在回家去吧，告诉妈妈，这些钱是你们自己的。

1 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 timid   

adj.胆怯的，害羞的

参考例句：

• The rabbit is timid and suspicious.兔子胆小而多疑。
• He was timid about investing money.他不敢投资。

4 dough   

n.生面团；钱，现款

参考例句：

• She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
• The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。

5 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。