美國語文第三冊 第65期：知足的男孩（01）
Mr. Lenox was one morning riding by himself.
有一天早晨，雷諾克斯先生正獨自騎著馬。
He got off from his horse to look at something on the roadside.
為了看路旁的某樣?xùn)|西，他從馬上下來了。
The horse broke away from him, and ran off.
突然，馬從他手上掙脫，跑開了。
Mr. Lenox ran after him,but soon found that he could not catch him.
雷諾克斯先生急忙去追，可是很快就發(fā)現(xiàn)不可能追得上。
A little boy at work in a field near the road, heard the horse.
路旁的田里有一個小男孩正在勞作，他聽到了馬的聲音。
As soon as he saw him running from his master, the boy ran very quickly to the middle of the road, and, catching the horse by the bridle, stopped him till Mr. Lenox came up.
他一看到馬從主人身邊逃開，就迅速跑到路中間，他抓住了韁繩，讓馬停了下來，等待雷克諾斯先生走近。
Mr. Lenox. Thank you, my good boy, you have caught my horse very nicely.
雷諾克斯先生（以下為“雷”）：謝謝你，好小伙兒，你抓住了我的馬，干得很漂亮。
What shall I give you for your trouble?
給你添了麻煩，我該給你些什么表示感謝呢？
The boy says: "I want nothing, sir."
男孩說：“我什么也不要，先生。”
You want nothing?
你什么也不要？
So much the better for you.
對你來說何樂而不為呢。
Few men can say as much.
很少有人能這么說的。
But what were you doing in the field?
可是你剛才在田里做什么呢？
I was rooting up weeds, and tending the sheep that were feeding on turnips.
我在除草，還有照看吃蕪菁的綿羊。
Do you like to work?
你喜歡干活嗎？
Yes, sir, very well, this fine weather.
是的，先生，很喜歡，這么好的天氣。
But would you not rather play?
可是你不想去玩耍嗎？
This is not hard work. It is almost as good as play.
這不是什么重活，這幾乎和玩耍一樣好。
Who set you to work?
是誰安排你來干活的？
My father, sir.
我的父親，先生。
What is your name?
你叫什么名字？
Peter Hurdle, sir.
彼得.赫德爾，先生。
How old are you?
你多大了？
Eight years old, next June.
到6月就8歲了。
How long have you been here?
你在這兒待了多久了？
Ever since six o'clock this morning.
早晨6點以后我就一直在這里。
Are you not hungry?
你肚子不餓嗎？
Yes, sir, but I shall go to dinner soon.
餓的，先生，但是我很快就要吃午飯了。
If you had a dime now, what would you do with it?
如果你有個一角的硬幣，你會用它來做什么呢？
I don't know, sir. I never had so much.
我不知道，先生，我從來沒有過那么多的錢。
Have you no playthings?
你沒有玩具嗎？
Playthings? What are they?
玩具？玩具是什么？
Such things as ninepins, marbles, tops, and wooden horses.
例如九柱戲、玻璃彈子、陀螺和木馬等。
No, sir. Tom and I play at football in winter, and I have ajumping rope.
沒有，先生。湯姆和我冬天的時候玩橄欖球，我有一根跳繩，
I had a hoop, but it is broken.
還有一個鐵箍，不過壞掉了。
