"I think I shall soon be quite a man," said Tom to a girl whom he knew well, as she sat by the gate of her home. 我认为我很快就会成为一个男人，汤姆向坐在他家门口的女孩说道

　　"Well," said she,"some boys think they are men, but they act as boys for all that.  是的，小女孩回答，有的男孩子认为自己是男人，但是他们表现却像个男孩。

　　If you were a man, Tom, you would not throw plum stones at me. You would not tease my dog.  汤姆，如果你是男人，你就不会向我扔紫色的石块，不会嘲笑我得到小狗。

　　You would not put your foot out to make me fall down. You would not laugh when you see rude boys do things which you know are wrong." 你不会伸出你的脚让我摔倒。你不会嘲笑那些无理的男孩做着一些你知道错的事情。

　　"You may be a big boy, and you may be an old boy, but I shall not think you a man till you act as a man.  也许你是个大男生，也许你是个老男生但我绝不认为你是个男人，除非你表现的像个男人。

　　No true man would do a mean thing. A true man is brave and just. He will do what is right, and fear not. Think of that, Tom." 真正的男人不会做吝啬的事情。真正的男人勇敢刚正。他会做对每一件事，不会畏惧。想想这些吧，汤姆。

　　"Yes," said Tom, "I will. What you say is quite true.  是的，汤姆回答道，我会的。你说的很对。

　　I must try to be a good boy, that I may grow up to be a good man." 我要让自己成为个好男孩，那样我才能长成好的男人。