美國語文第四冊 第80期：蕁麻（03）
There are many thousand plants in the world, and it has pleased God, in his wisdom, to make them all different.
世界上有成千上萬種植物，上帝以他的智慧欣然將它們創(chuàng)作成各自不同的樣子。
Now look at this other nettle, which grew on the opposite side of the road;
現(xiàn)在你看看長在馬路對面的另一種蕁麻，
you see that it is not exactly like the one you have just examined.
和你剛才仔細檢查過的不完全一樣。
No, papa; this has little flat seeds instead of flowers.
是的，爸爸。這種長著扁平的種子，而不是花。
Very right, my dear. Now, in order to make those seeds grow,
沒錯，親愛的。為了讓這些種子生長，
it is necessary that the little flower of this plant and the seed of that should be together, as they are in most others.
必須把這株植物的小花和種子湊到一起，就像大多數(shù)情況下那樣。
But plants can not walk, like animals.
但植物不能像動物一樣行走移動。
The wisdom of God, therefore, has provided a remedy for this.
因此，上帝的智慧為之提供了一個補救的辦法。
When the little flower bursts open it throws out a fine powder, which you saw rise like a cloud;
小花綻開時會拋出一些花粉，就是你看到的像云團一樣的東西，
this is conveyed by the air to the other plant,
它通過空氣被運送到其他植物上。
and when it falls upon the seed of that plant it gives it power to grow, and makes it a perfect seed,
當(dāng)落到那個植物的種子上時，它就讓花粉在里面生長，使其成為一個飽滿的種子。
which, in its turn, when it falls to the ground, will produce a new plant.
反過來，等到種子落到地上，就會長出一株新的植物。
Were it not for this fine powder, that seed would never be perfect or complete.
要不是有了這種花粉，種子將無法變得飽滿和完整。
That is very curious, indeed; and I see the use of the little cloud and the flower;
確實很奇特。我知道小云團和花的用處了。
but the leaf that stung me, of what use can that be?
但是那蜇我的葉子呢，它能有什么用？
There, dear papa, I am afraid I puzzle you to tell me that.
親愛的爸爸，讓你告訴我這個，恐怕把你弄糊涂了。
Even these stings are made useful to man.
這些刺對人類也是有用的。
The poor people in some countries use them instead of blisters, when they are sick.
在一些國家，窮人們生病時不用藥，而是用它們來治病。
Those leaves which do not sting are used by some for food,
這些不帶刺的葉子可以用做食物原料，
and from the stalk others get a stringy bark, which answers the purpose of flax.
人們還從它的莖上得到纖維質(zhì)的莖皮，來制作亞麻。
Thus you see that even the despised nettle is not made in vain;
這樣一來，你看，連最不起眼的蕁麻都不是一無是處的。
and this lesson may serve to teach you that we only need to understand the works of, God to see that "in goodness and wisdom he has made them all."
這一課可以教育你，我們需要去理解上帝的杰作， 看“他是如何用善意和智慧創(chuàng)造了這一切”。
