mean 吝啬

　　George 乔治

　　gift 礼物

　　engaged 参与

　　Mason 马森

　　Ellet 艾略特

　　THE BROKEN WINDOW 打破的窗户

　　George Ellet had a bright silver dollar for a New-year gift. 乔治艾略特要用一枚闪闪发光的银币买样新年礼物。

　　He thought of all the fine things he might buy with it. 他想遍了所有能用它买到的好东西。

　　The ground was all covered with snow; 大地被雪覆盖，

　　but the sun shone out bright, 但阳光明媚，

　　and everything looked beautiful. 一切看上去都很美。

　　So George put on his hat, 乔治戴上他的帽子

　　and ran into the street. 跑到街上。

　　As he went skipping along, 正当他沿着街道蹦蹦跳跳地走时，

　　he met some boys throwing snowballs. 他看到一些男孩在打雪仗。

　　George soon engaged in the sport. 乔治很快便参与到游戏之中。

　　He sent a ball at James Mason, 他向詹姆斯马森扔出一个雪球，

　　but it missed him, and broke a window on the other side of the street. 不仅没有击中他，还打破了街对面的一扇窗户。

　　George feared some one would come out of the house and find him. 乔治怕有人会从房子出来找他，

　　So he ran off as fast as he could. 便竭尽全力地跑开了。

　　As soon as he got round the next corner, 就在他跑到下一个路口时，

　　George stopped, because he was very sorry for what he had done. 乔治停住了，因为他对自己做下的事情感到很愧疚。

　　He said to himself, 他告诉自己说：

　　"I have no right to spend my silver dollar, now. "我现在没有全力花掉我的银币了。

　　I ought to go back, and pay for the glass I broke with my snowball." 我应该回去，赔偿我用雪球打碎的那块玻璃。”

　　He went up and down the street, 他在街上来来回回地走着，

　　and felt very sad. 感到十分难过。

　　He wished very much to buy something nice. 他非常希望能买些好东西，

　　He also wished to pay for the broken glass. 也希望赔偿打碎的玻璃。

　　At last he said, 最后他说：

　　"It was wrong to break the window, “打碎玻璃是我的不对，

　　though I did not mean to do it. 尽管我不是故意的。

　　I will go and pay for it, 所以我得赔偿，

　　if it takes all my money, 即使花掉所有的钱，

　　I will try not to be sorry. 我也会觉得心安。

　　I do not think the man will hurt me if I pay for the mischief I have done." 如果我为自己犯下的错误而赔偿，我觉得房屋的主人就不会责怪我。”