美國語文第四冊 第32期：不浪費(fèi),不愁缺（01）
Boys, if you have nothing to do, will you unpack these parcels for me?
小伙子們，如果你們沒什么事做，能不能請你們給我打開這些包裹？
The two parcels were exactly alike, both of them well tied up with good whipcord.
兩個包裹一模一樣，都系著上好的鞭繩。
Ben took his parcel to the table, and began to examine the knot, and then to untie it.
本將他手里的包裹放在桌子上，開始檢查繩結(jié)，然后把它解開了。
John took the other parcel, and tried first at one corner, and then at the other, to pull off the string.
約翰拿著另外一個包裹，最開始試圖從一角解起，后來又換到從另一邊拉繩子。
But the cord had been too well secured, and he only drew the knots tighter.
但是鞭繩系得太牢固了，他反而是把繩結(jié)越拉越緊。
John says, I wish these people would not tie up their parcels so tightly, as if they were never to be undone.
我真希望這些人不要把他們的包裹系得這么緊，就像永遠(yuǎn)不打開似的。
Why, Ben, how did you get yours undone? What is in your parcel?
本，你是怎么解開你那個包裹的？你包裹里是什么？
I wonder what is in mine! I wish I could get the string off. I will cut it.
我在想我這里有什么。我真希望能把繩子弄開。我來剪開它。
Then says, Oh, no, do not cut it, John! Look, what a nice cord this is, and yours is the same. It is a pity to cut it.
哦，不，約翰，別剪！看，這是一條多好的繩子，你的那條也一樣好。剪斷太可惜了。
Pooh! what signifies a bit of pack thread?
哎呀！一小截線段有什么大不了的？
It is whipcord.
這可是鞭繩啊。
Well, whipcord then! what signifies a bit of whipcord? You can get a piece of whipcord twice as long as that for three cents;
好吧，鞭繩就鞭繩！一小截鞭繩有什么用？三美分就能買條相當(dāng)于這個兩倍長的鞭繩。
and who cares for three cents? Not I, for one. So, here it goes.
誰會在乎三美分啊？比如我就不在乎。那么，現(xiàn)在開始。
So he took out his knife, and cut it in several places.
于是他拿出小刀，將繩子剪成了幾截。
Well, my boys, have you undone the parcels for me?
好了，孩子們，你們把包裹給我打開了嗎？
Yes, sir; here is the parcel.
是的。包裹在這兒。
And here is my parcel, father, and here is also the string.
爸爸，這是我打開的包裹，繩子在這兒。
You may keep the string, Ben.
本，繩子你可以留下。
Thank you, sir. What excellent whipcord it is!
謝謝您！多好的鞭繩??！
And you, John, may keep your string, too, if it will be of any use to you.
約翰，如果你的那條繩子對你有用，你也可以留著。
It will be of no use to me, thank you, sir.
它對我來說沒什么用處，謝謝您。
No, I am afraid not, if this is it.
不，如果是剪成這樣的，恐怕確實(shí)沒用了。
