Jim and Nancy and May had gone to bed. 吉姆、南希和梅已经上床睡觉了。

　　Mother had said good-night, but the children were not asleep. 妈妈已经跟他们道了晚安，但是孩子们却睡不着。

　　"Now," said Jim, "let us all think about a surprise for Mother. “现在”，吉姆说，“我们都想一想怎么给妈妈一个惊喜。

　　What shall we give her for her birthday?" 我们送妈妈什么生日礼物好呢？”

　　"We have no money," said Nancy. “我们没有什么钱”，南希说。

　　"Maybe we can make something for her." “也许我们可以给她制作个什么东西”。

　　The children thought and thought. 孩子们想啊想。

　　At last May said, "Oh, I'll tell you." And she began to talk very fast. 最后梅说，“噢，我来告诉你们吧”。然后她开始说她的想法，说得非常快。

　　"Oh, oh!" said the other children. “噢，噢”！另一个孩子说。

　　"That is just the thing! Mother will like that best of all." “就这样！妈妈一定会喜欢的。”

　　Before long they were asleep. 没过多久，他们都睡着了。

　　All the next day the children were very busy making something. 第二天，孩子们一整天都在忙着做东西。

　　They did not let their mother see what they were doing. 他们没有让妈妈看到他们在做什么。

　　"It will be fun to surprise Mother," said Nancy. “给妈妈一个惊喜会很有趣的”，南希说。

　　"She will never guess what we are doing for her." “她永远都不会猜到我们在为她做什么”。

　　"We must try to get up very early tomorrow morning," said Jim. “明天早上我们必须尽量很早就起床”，吉姆说。

　　"I wish tomorrow would come soon," said May.  “我希望明天能快点到来啊”，梅说。

　　Next morning the children got up early. They were very busy. 第二天早上，孩子们早早地就起床了。他们个个忙个不停。

　　After a time they called Mother. 一段时间过后，他们喊来了妈妈。

　　"Happy birthday!" they said. “生日快乐”！他们说。

　　"Breakfast is ready, Mother." “早餐弄好了，妈妈”。

　　When Mother came down, she went to the breakfast table. 当妈妈下楼的时候，她来到了摆放着早餐的餐桌前。

　　"My, what a surprise!" she cried. “天那，太让人惊讶了”！她喊道。

　　Then Mother saw three big cards on the table. 在这个时候，妈妈看见桌子上有三张大卡片。

　　Each card had something on it.  每张卡片上都写着字。

　　One of the big cards said, Happy birthday, Mother! 其中一张卡片上写着，生日快乐，妈妈！

　　I will water the yard and cut the grass. Jim 我愿意给园子浇水和除草。吉姆

　　Another card said, Happy birthday, Mother! 另一张卡片上写着，生日快乐，妈妈！

　　I will be your errand girl. Nancy 我愿意为您跑跑腿。南希

　　Then Mother saw this card, Happy birthday, Mother! 接着，妈妈看到了这张卡片，上面写着，生日快乐，妈妈！

　　I will make the beds and take care of baby. May 我愿意整理床铺，照看宝宝。梅

　　Mother said, "Thank you, children. This is a nice birthday surprise!" 妈妈说，“谢谢你们了，孩子们。这真是个非常好的生日惊喜啊！”