整整一个夏天，鲁本除了干家务——给菜园锄草、浇水，砍柴和打水外，始终进行着他的秘密任务。

　　Then all too soon the garden was harvested, the vegetables canned and stored, and the school reopened. Soon the leaves fell and the winds blew cold and gusty from the bay. Reuben wandered the streets, diligently searching for his hessian treasures.

　　转眼菜园里该采收了，蔬菜被装罐腌制后储藏，学校也开学了。再不久， 树叶飘零，海湾吹起阵阵寒风。鲁本在街头徘徊，努力寻找着被他视为宝物的麻袋。

　　Often he was cold, tired and hungry, but the thought of the object in the shop window sustained him. Sometimes his mother would ask: "Reuben, where were you? We were waiting for you to have dinner."

　　他经常是饥寒交迫，疲惫不堪，但是一想到商店橱窗里的那样东西，他就又有劲儿坚持下去了。有时妈妈会问 ：“鲁本，你上哪儿啦?我们等你吃饭呢!”

　　"Playing, Mum. Sorry."

　　“玩去啦，妈妈。对不起。”

　　Dora would look at his face and shake her head. Boys.

　　这时候，多拉总会瞧着他的脸，无奈地摇摇头，心想：男孩就是男孩。

　　男孩的使命3.jpg

　　Finally spring burst into glorious green and Reuben's spirits erupted. The time had come! He ran into the barn, climbed to the hayloft and uncovered the tin can. He poured the coins out and began to count.

　　春天终于来了，带来片片绿意，鲁本的精神也随之振奋。是时候了！他跑到谷仓，爬上草垛，打开铁罐，倒出所有硬币清点起来。

　　Then he counted again. He needed 20 cents more. Could there be any sacks left any where in town? He had to find four and sell them before the day ended.

　　他又数一遍，还差20美分。镇上哪儿还会有丢弃的麻袋吗？他必须在今天结束之前再找4条去卖掉。

　　Reuben ran down Water Street.

　　鲁本沿着沃特街走着。